Lovers and One Direction fans wanted.
Light House is welcoming One Direction fans to the historic Chubb Buildings to show the world how much Wolverhampton loves the world’s biggest band – through the power of locks!
“The Chubb Buildings, where our café and cinema is based, is famous for being a former lock factory, a landmark visible to many people as they travel by rail or road through the City.” says Marketing and Events manager Julie Homfray. “Wolverhampton has a tradition of being associated with lock making, and as we’re Liam’s Payne’s home town, we want to show the world how much Wolverhampton love Liam and One Direction by building a wall of lovelocks – padlocks marked with fans’ initials and of their favourite 1D member.”
The tradition of Love Locks goes back to World War One, however it is over the past 10 years that locks have become popular to symbolise love at bridges and landmarks in major cities across the world, such as Rome at Ponte Milvio. Julie explained, “We have an Italian theme weekend coming up and so it seemed appropriate to build our own Lovelock fence to both celebrate Wolverhampton and The Chubb Buildings’ heritage, and to also share the tradition with young people in a fun way. Any small padlock can be used, initialled with the names of the two people in love. The key is then thrown away to symbolise everlasting love”.
The Chubb Buildings is home to Light House Media Centre, the Black Country’s only independent cinema, plus its gallery and café bar, Lock Works. It holds regular events such as Saturday’s Italian Party, a free event from 4.30pm celebrating Italy and its language, and Moda, a Mod and fashion themed event on Sunday. It will also screen Monty Python live on Sunday night. Through the summer holidays Lock Works Cafe will be open for lunches and drinks each weekday, so that 1D fans can bring their locks to the fence.
Photos of our locks will be shared across the world’s social media. The padlock wall is now open for fans of 1D, or anyone in love to add their lock, with the instagram and twitter hashtag #1DLovelocks for 1D fans, or #LoveLocks @Lock_Works for other romantics.
