I didn’t find this at all easy and had to chip away around the grid. 10 and loi 11ac then formed the final hurdles which took some time to clear. That I made heavy weather of this, coming in at 16 minutes, can best be seen at 11ac where I was off into La-La Land wrestling with a wheat variety before coming to my senses. So I found this highly rewarding to finish but not, perhaps, for the best reasons. Cod to the twist in the word play at 23ac.
ACROSS
1. Tame - uninspiring. Anagram (beaten) of TEAM.
3. Stagnant - standing still. Identify granny (TAG NAN) inside street (ST).
9. Artwork - illustrations. In the office (AT WORK) capturing queen (R).
10. Alpha - I think this is a double definition. A and alpha as the starter of the Greek alphabet. I suppose it could be a cryptic definition as just the start of the Greek alphabet.
11. Spelt - was likely to produce (the storm spelt danger). Second (S), skin (PELT).
Anyone who was chasing after the species of wheat, Triticum spelta has my sympathies. I had nearly convinced myself that this wheat which was 'formerly much cultivated' could equate to 'was likely to produce' before I doh-ed.
12. Impair - blunt (one's judgement). Married couple (M PAIR) after (on) island (I).
14. Prime Minister - Premier. To brief (PRIME), clergyman (MINISTER).
17. Knight - man - in medieval times, a knight was a man of noble birth, who served his king or lord in battle. Homophone (reportedly) of in the dark (night).
19. Hoard - stock. Firm (HARD) keeping old (O).
22. Amber - orange. Anagram (at sea) of BREAM.
23. Run down - in a poor state. Ladder (RUN as in stockings/tights) put away (DOWN - a ladder is put up if it’s in use so would be down when put away).
24. Amethyst - precious stone. Anagram (may make) of THEM STAY.
25. Idle - not wanting to work. In Madr(ID LE)cturing.
DOWN
1. Transept - section of church. Anagram (intricate) of PATTERNS.
2. Mitre - joint - a corner joint formed between two pieces of material, esp wood, by cutting bevels of equal angles at the ends of each piece. (T)wisted in boggy ground (MIRE).
4. Take it in turns - alternate (between one then the other). Anagram (badly) of RANK INSTITUTE.
5. Grasp - hold. (G)arte(R), snake (ASP).
6. Appoint - choose. A (A), soft (P), tip (POINT).
7. Tram (vehicle). Trading area (MART) upwards (overturned).
8. Bottle - courage. A drink can come from a bottle.
13. Prudence - double definition.
15. Ignoble - base. US soldier (GI) upwards (set up), impressive (NOBLE).
16. In hand - receiving attention. At home (IN), pointer (HAND - on a clock).
18. Girth - saddle strap. Anagram (fixed) of RIGHT.
20. Avoid - steer clear of. A (A), chasm (VOID).
21. Saga - epic. Decline (SAG), (A)ges.
ACROSS
1. Tame - uninspiring. Anagram (beaten) of TEAM.
3. Stagnant - standing still. Identify granny (TAG NAN) inside street (ST).
9. Artwork - illustrations. In the office (AT WORK) capturing queen (R).
10. Alpha - I think this is a double definition. A and alpha as the starter of the Greek alphabet. I suppose it could be a cryptic definition as just the start of the Greek alphabet.
11. Spelt - was likely to produce (the storm spelt danger). Second (S), skin (PELT).
Anyone who was chasing after the species of wheat, Triticum spelta has my sympathies. I had nearly convinced myself that this wheat which was 'formerly much cultivated' could equate to 'was likely to produce' before I doh-ed.
12. Impair - blunt (one's judgement). Married couple (M PAIR) after (on) island (I).
14. Prime Minister - Premier. To brief (PRIME), clergyman (MINISTER).
17. Knight - man - in medieval times, a knight was a man of noble birth, who served his king or lord in battle. Homophone (reportedly) of in the dark (night).
19. Hoard - stock. Firm (HARD) keeping old (O).
22. Amber - orange. Anagram (at sea) of BREAM.
23. Run down - in a poor state. Ladder (RUN as in stockings/tights) put away (DOWN - a ladder is put up if it’s in use so would be down when put away).
24. Amethyst - precious stone. Anagram (may make) of THEM STAY.
25. Idle - not wanting to work. In Madr(ID LE)cturing.
DOWN
1. Transept - section of church. Anagram (intricate) of PATTERNS.
2. Mitre - joint - a corner joint formed between two pieces of material, esp wood, by cutting bevels of equal angles at the ends of each piece. (T)wisted in boggy ground (MIRE).
4. Take it in turns - alternate (between one then the other). Anagram (badly) of RANK INSTITUTE.
5. Grasp - hold. (G)arte(R), snake (ASP).
6. Appoint - choose. A (A), soft (P), tip (POINT).
7. Tram (vehicle). Trading area (MART) upwards (overturned).
8. Bottle - courage. A drink can come from a bottle.
13. Prudence - double definition.
15. Ignoble - base. US soldier (GI) upwards (set up), impressive (NOBLE).
16. In hand - receiving attention. At home (IN), pointer (HAND - on a clock).
18. Girth - saddle strap. Anagram (fixed) of RIGHT.
20. Avoid - steer clear of. A (A), chasm (VOID).
21. Saga - epic. Decline (SAG), (A)ges.