about MIW

1979: Bryan Ferry on a goodwill visit to the factory where a press was named after him.  He is shown with Vin Gowland (Plant Manager) far left and staff.

Made in Walthamstow is the research base for the history of the Philips (later PolyGram) vinyl and cassette factory in North East London. It was set up by Rob Davison, an ex-PolyGram staffer in the late 1970s, with the intention of writing a book about the plant, the record business at the time and, the Factory’s place in the local community. Basically life and various other projects got in the way. The site stayed up and Rob continued to receive emails from ex-staff and people with all sorts of connections to the place and the products. In 2022 the site was redesigned and will now feature some of the material that have been gathered over recent years.

“My decision to try and write about this came from a number of directions; an affection for my days with one of the majors during perhaps the last boom for vinyl; my disappointment in finding no representation of the Factory, despite it’s importance, at the local Vestry House Museum; finding people interested in the posts on my blog and, many of them holding the place and their time their with affection and regard. Perhaps there is a story worth telling”
Rob Davison, December 2022