Railway owner Network Rail has erected fencing around the famous Twemlow viaduct, to protect it from visiting Harry Styles fans.
Harry fans are being encouraged to sign a new, purpose-built wall as an alternative to the bricks of the grade II listed viaduct, which has become a shrine to the pop superstar, who grew up in the village.
Twemlow viaduct is 183 years old and takes trains from Manchester to Crewe through Holmes Chapel on the busy West Coast main line.
In recent years fans from across the world have made the pilgrimage to the 23-arch structure and marked their names into the bricks, as Harry himself once did.
The new wall, made with blank panels, will protect the bridge’s bricks from potential damage, offering an alternative place for fans to leave messages to Harry.
Network Rail is urging “Harries” to leave their messages on the new wall, rather than on the viaduct, which the infrastructure manager of most of the railway network said could “sustain long-term damage” if the artwork continued at its current rate.
Rob Stephens, Network Rail’s principal route engineer, said: “Twemlow viaduct is not only a historic railway structure that transports important passenger and freight services on the West Coast main line, but it also attracts people travelling far and wide to see it in person.
“We understand how much the viaduct means to Harry Styles fans, but unfortunately some visitors are writing messages on its brickwork.
“To preserve the viaduct’s historic status and not spoil anyone’s fun, we have fitted an alternative wall to allow ‘Harries’ to continue to leave their messages of love and support.”
Peter Whiers, chair of Holmes Chapel Partnership, said: “We are delighted to see Network Rail recognise the attraction that Twemlow viaduct has become by installing a new blank canvas that allows 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.”
Network Rail owns, operates and develops Britain’s railway infrastructure – 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. It also runs some of the largest stations. It is a non-departmental public body of the department for transport with no shareholders, which reinvests its income in the railways.
The last Government said it would replace Network Rail with a new public body called Great British Railways. A ballot was held over the location of its new HQ, with Crewe losing out to Derby.
(Photo: Network Rail).
