This summer, Holmes Chapel (population 6,700), will host thousands of visitors from across the world who are fans of a global superstar. Élodie Emmett tells the story of the singer and actor who has given her village the X Factor
The chatter in Holmes Chapel – in the schools, and shops, the cafés and pubs, and on the street – has long been about Harry Styles who grew up here. At school – Hermitage Primary School, then Holmes Chapel Comprehensive – friend groups would debate who had the closest connection to Harry, or who had seen him most recently. It was often difficult to sort fact from fiction. Did that girl really live in his old house? Had he really been spotted in the village that very day? Unfortunately for me, the time I chose not to believe the rumours, Harry Styles was indeed sitting in the Holmes Chapel Costa Coffee, as I was returning books to the library. The next day, when I saw the photographs of him hugging and high-fiving staff and pupils on the playground of my primary school, it felt surreal to think such a big name had been wandering around the same place less than 24 hours before.
There was always the hope he might, just might, turn up unannounced again. It was something worth going to school for.
For those of us who live in Holmes Chapel, catching a glimpse of Harry Styles is not uncommon – my parents once bumped into him and his then-girlfriend, the actress and director Olivia Wilde, while walking our dog. My dad played it cool with an 'all right?' thrown in Harry’s direction. Harry responded, 'good mate, you?' and they both carried on their way.
Whatever age you are, if you live in this village, you have a Styles story to tell, ranging from the well-publicised appearance of Harry and Taylor Swift dining at the Fortune City Chinese restaurant to my neighbours' tale of the time Harry's mum, Anne Twist, had a cup of tea in their kitchen. Anne is still a frequent visitor to the village, last spotted in Holmes Chapel Gifts and Interiors. Young or old, everyone here enjoys the gossip surrounding the village's most famous son.
For a long time, the only indication of the Harry-Holmes Chapel connection was a more-than-life-size cardboard cut-out figure in W Mandeville bakers where the A-list celebrity held a Saturday job before his 2010 X Factor audition, along with a picture of the One Direction members tucking into Mandeville pies, with the pithy caption: ‘These pies are going in one direction’. But the Cheshire village is now embracing the global fame of the multi-award winner whose music has more than 21 billion streams on Spotify alone, and whose Instagram has a following of 47million.
Harries – the term fans have bestowed on themselves – began making the pilgrimage to Holmes Chapel when their idol made his debut as a soloist at the age of 16 on The X Factor, joining four other contestants to form the boyband One Direction. Though they didn't win, coming third to Matt Cardle and second-placed Rebecca Ferguson, the group, went on to sign with Cowell's Syco Records and become a chart-topping global phenomenon. The band parted ways in 2015.
This influx of fans means there are now more signs the A-lister hailed from these parts. The village railway station – four in every five travellers there are Harry fans – has been transformed into a shrine for the Grammy-winning artist. Ticket officer Graham Blake, who is proud to have sold Harry the ticket that took him to London for that life-changing X Factor audition in 2010, says much of his work time is now taken up with conversations with Harries. Graham has set up the Harry Styles Holmes Chapel Station Facebook group for visitors to share memories and pictures, and there are books at the station, for the fans travelling from all over the world to Holmes Chapel to leave messages for their idol. Harry’s father, Desmond Styles, gifted the first five copies to his son as a birthday present, and they have made their way to the singer ever since. 'After all, what do you give a man who has everything,' says Graham.
Last year, an estimated 5,000 Harries visited Holmes Chapel. I have been stopped on numerous occasions by fans wanting directions to the Harry landmarks. I see them when I am out and about most days now, usually in pairs or small groups, brightly dressed, clutching their W Mandeville bags making their way to the Twemlow Viaduct, where Harry had his first kiss and was filmed for the 2013 One Direction: This Is Us documentary film, which grossed $68 million worldwide. The viaduct is a shrine for die-hard fans who sign their names on one of the arches, as Harry did in the documentary.
This influx of visitors to the village, having to cross the busy main road, with its blind corners, alerted the Holmes Chapel Partnership, a voluntary organisation working for the community. In an attempt to keep the Harries safe, the partnership distributed maps directing them to the landmarks via the safest routes, but the fans have continued to raise alarm bells as they rush across the road to get to the famous arches.
This year, Holmes Chapel Partnership has created Harry’s Home Tour, to lead the sight-seers around the village safely. The project offered lovers of Harry, and Holmes Chapel, the chance to become a tour guide. More than 150 people from all over the world applied, with an interview process including an 80-point quiz with questions on both Harry and Holmes Chapel, such as: 'What was the name of Harry’s first pet?' Answer: a dog named Max. 'Which instrument does Harry play?' Answer: guitar, and, 'Thomas Hall was a historically important figure in Holmes Chapel, where can you see his name?' Answer: several buildings in the village have a stone showing TBH and a date, including one above Bridgford's estate agent in The Square.
Peter Whiers, chair of Holmes Chapel Partnership says: 'The assessment day went incredibly well. There was a lot of love for Harry in the room but also many applicants who shared fantastic knowledge of local history and pride in Holmes Chapel village.'
Eleven guides made the cut, with most living in a 30-mile radius of Holmes Chapel, and one American, who is a student in Manchester. The youngest guide is 16-year-old Harry Styles enthusiast Ben McCormick, who was in the year below me at school. Ben says that growing up in the village and going to the same schools, gives him an insight into the star’s life before his rise to fame, which he is keen to share with the world.
A new map has been released for 2024, which takes in all the key sights, including a trip past Hermitage Primary, W Mandeville bakery, and, of course, the viaduct. The tour begins at the station, where fans are greeted by a guide wearing a Harry’s Home Village Tour high-vis jacket and T-shirt. Then onto Sam Dale and Son, Holmes Chapel's department store. I was kitted out at Dales before starting Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School. Now, customers include Harry followers who buy the items of school uniform he would have worn, to take back with them to the four corners of the globe. Sam Dale and Son, established in 1927, has expanded its merchandise to Harry Styles T-shirts, signs, mugs, keyrings and colouring books, available both in-store and online.
Harries have a photo opportunity at Dales where they can don a high-vis and write a message on a slate heart to take to the famous arches of the Twemlow Viaduct. Holmes Chapel Partnership hopes the ceremonial placing of the signed hearts will put an end to the graffiti at the Grade 2 Listed site, built in 1841.
No tour would be complete without a visit to W Mandeville bakery. Saturday jobs there, like the one Harry had, are still a popular option for students in the village who don’t mind the 6am start. Harry was said to be a great timekeeper, who loved to feed the ducks at Dales on his lunch break.
What the partnership may not be able to stop is the graffiti on the lamppost, next to the bakery, which in the last couple of years has become another place for fans to leave a message to Harry. Car journeys to my home, which is close to the bakery, are often halted abruptly due to fans standing in the road trying to get a good angle for their bakery picture.
After sampling all the bakery has to offer, the tour continues to the viaduct. The views along the River Dane to get to the famous viaduct are as breathtaking from the ground as it is from the train. Going for a leisurely walk here on a beautiful day, having picnics next to the peaceful River Dane with my friends and family, is one of my favourite things. The magic of this place is undeniable, whether you're a Harry fan or not.
Harry's Home Village Tours, which run on various dates from now until September and last between two-and-a-half and three hours, can be booked for £20 per ticket via the Holmes Chapel Partnership website: hcpartnership.org.uk/guided-tours.
Echoing 'Harry’s message to ‘treat people with kindness’, the tour organisers are asking attendees to follow the Country Code and be respectful on the walk to Twemlow Viaduct, which is across working farmland, warning that straying from the guided path and littering can be harmful, and even fatal, to livestock.
I wonder what Harry would think of the tour. If I see him, I'll ask.
Élodie Emmett, aged 17, lives in Holmes Chapel with her parents, brother and a dog named Elvis. She is studying Spanish, English Language and politics at Sir John Deane’s Sixth Form College in Northwich, along with Korean in her spare time. She plays clarinet and piano and has performed with the Congleton Youth Orchestra and the Love Music Trust. She also likes the music of Harry Styles.
'My dream is to pursue a career in journalism, as I enjoy writing and have a particular interest in languages,' she says.
This article was written while on work experience with Cheshire Life.
Wild about Harry
Musician, actor, fashion icon, philanthropist
Born February 1, 1994
One Direction are among the most successful boy bands of all time, with 70 million records worldwide and four world tours
Harry's debut single, Sign of the Times, reached number one in the UK in 2017, winning a Brit award for British video the following year
His debut album, Harry Styles, reached number 1 in the United States, the UK, Australia, Canada and Ireland
Fine Line, his second album, recorded the highest first-week sales by a British male act in the United States and made him the first British male artist to have his first two albums debut at number 1 on the US Billboard 200
Third album, Harry’s House, went straight to number 1 on release, in countries including the UK and the United States. It won Album Of The Year at the 2023 Grammy Awards and four categories at the Brit Awards, including British Album and Artist of the Year
His song, As it Was, was the best-selling global single of 2022, with 2.28 billion subscription streams, topping the charts in 45 countries
Harry’s Love on Tour was the fourth highest-grossing tour of all time, spanning173 dates across the world and lasting 22 months
Acting credits include the films Dunkirk, Eternals, Don't Worry Darling and My Policeman
Music accolades include six Brit Awards, three Grammy Awards, two Ivor Novello Awards, three American Music Awards and three MTV Video Music Awards
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At home in Holmes Chapel
The community partnership recommends visitors to the village this summer take time to explore Holmes Chapel village as a whole and learn about its history.
Even if you are not wild about Harry, and are accompanying your child or a Styles-obsessed friend, there is much to see and enjoy alongside the tour. St Luke’s Church dates back to the 1400s. On a Friday night, the sounds of the ancient bells can be heard across the village.
In 1753, a fire destroyed much of the village, which is why most of the buildings are no older than the 18th century, despite Holmes Chapel being a much older settlement. The pubs in the village offer great food and service and there is an increasing number of independent retailers. I'd recommend an ice cream from Holmes Sweet Home and a look around Holmes Gifts and Interiors.
