Welwyn Garden City

In 1962 the Rank Organization took over Murphy Radio and the firm became Rank, Bush, Murphy. TV and radio production ceased in 1964 when the company expanded into electronics.

In 1969, another Rank company, Rank Xerox, moved into the former Murphy Radio factory premises on Bessemer Road in Welwyn Garden City. This became a major manufacturing site for Rank Xerox, producing electronic assemblies and materials for its copier divisions.

According to Rank Xerox International Review in 1980, there was 2,326 employees at Rank Xerox Welwyn Garden City. It included the original Murphy Radio factory building as well as additional buildings constructed by Rank Xerox, comprising a large campus with three matching four-story office buildings (Development Centre, Business Centre, Enterprise Centre) and a warehouse called Vision House.

The Rank Xerox campus in Welwyn Garden City consisted of four main buildings:

• The Development Centre - A four-story office building located on the western side of the site
• The Business Centre - Another matching four-story office building, situated in the center of the three main buildings
• The Enterprise Centre - The third matching four-story office building, located on the eastern side of the site

All three of these office buildings had a symmetrical layout, facing inwards towards a central roundabout access point on the campus. They were constructed with a third floor that contained plant rooms/mechanical spaces on the roof level.

• Vision House also referred to as Orion House - A separate warehouse building that served an ancillary function, providing storage/distribution space supporting the three main office buildings

Below are 3 pictures of what today is known as the Orion/Vision house

February 1992: At Welwyn a 56,000 cubic feet hot air balloon lifts off to mark the launch of the Xerox 4235, which was the first mid volume laser printing system designed to meet the printing needs of both the data centers and the office, simultaneously.

Some job advertisment at Rank Xerox Welwyn Garden in the 1980's.

Xerox closed its operations in Welwyn Garden City in 2015/2016. The closure marked the end of an era for the site, which had been a significant part of the local economy and community for decades. After the closure, plans were made to redevelop the site, including proposals to convert the former Xerox buildings into housing and other facilities.