By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS
A Grade-II listed viaduct where pop megastar Harry Styles is believed to have had his first kiss has been fenced off to protect it from damage caused by pilgriming fans.
Twemlow Viaduct, near the singer’s home village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, has become a must-visit destination for fans who scratch their names into the bricks.
But Network Rail – which owns the site – say it means the 183-year-old viaduct has been damaged and it has been fenced off for protection.
Blank panels, erected on the fence to offer fans an alternative place to leave their names and messages, were unveiled today (Fri).
Holmes Chapel Partnership, which takes fans to the site as part of its popular Harry’s Home Village Tour, said the site was a “mecca” for Styles fans.
Peter Whiers, chairman of the partnership, said: “We are delighted to see Network Rail recognizing the mecca that Twemlow Viaduct has become and installing this blank canvas that will enable Harry Styles fans to express themselves creatively when visiting.
“This new wall is an important next step in both protecting the heritage of Twemlow Viaduct and continuing to raise the profile of Holmes Chapel on the tourist map for Cheshire.
“We are excited to see how fans react and take ownership of the wall over the coming weeks while ensuring the viaduct remains a cherished landmark for future generations.”
Harry signed his name on the viaduct wall in One Direction’s biopic This is Us.
Fans since flocked from around the world to visit the Victorian structure, which carries trains from Manchester to Crewe via Holmes Chapel on the West Coast main line.
