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Harry Styles fans flock to sign new wall at viaduct

BBC A woman with long hair is dressed in a white top with and woollen flowery cardigan wrapped around her arms. She stands in front of a green fence panel with a chalkboard fastened to it. The chalkboard has various messages addressed to Harry StylesBBC
"Massive fan" Sofie travelled from Birmingham to leave a message

A new wall set up near the viaduct where Harry Styles had his first kiss has been covered with messages within days of being unveiled.

The blackboards were placed alongside one of the columns supporting Twemlow Viaduct, near the pop star's hometown of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, in August after fans took to scratching their names and messages into the bricks of the Grade II-listed site.

Network Rail, which owns the site, said the new boards offered an "alternative place for fans to leave messages to Harry" and would protect the viaduct from "well-meaning damage".

Fans from as far afield as the US, Portugal and the Netherlands have already visited and left their messages for their idol.

In a documentary, Styles admitted the viaduct was where he had his first kiss, which led fans to visit the area and see the spot.

Dutch fan Hesta said she was moved to visit after connecting with the star when she saw him perform live.

"The way he makes people feel especially at his concerts, it really feels like home to me," she said.

Two women stand in front of a brick viaduct. One of them, with curly dark hair and a black top, holds a bag of shopping with details of a bakery printed on it, while the other, with long brown hair and a dark blue and white patterned dress, smiles and points at the bag
Portuguese friends Marta and Leonor visited the bakery where Styles worked before going to the viaduct

Teenager Sofia, who travelled up from Stafford to leave a message, said she had shared how the pop star had helped her.

"I just wanted to tell him what he means to me," she said.

"His music has really helped me through some tough times."

Blackpool native Megan Sage said she wanted to leave Styles an invitation to visit the famous seaside resort.

"When he's performing, it's just such a lovely vibe and he emits such a lovely kind energy," she said.

The column of brick-built Twemlow Viaduct, covered in graffiti about Harry Styles, and the blackboards and fence set up nearby to protect it
The wall has been set up to protect the Grade II-listed viaduct from unintentional damage

The boards have been put up by Network Rail with support from the Holmes Chapel Partnership, which runs guided Harry Styles-themed tours around the town.

Chairman Peter Whiers said the popularity of the star "never ceases" to amaze him, but the extra tourism had been a real boost for local businesses throughout the summer.

He said a family from Colorado recently joined his Harry Styles tour.

"They were doing two destinations in the UK: London and Holmes Chapel," he added.

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