Weslake Research and Development was founded by Harry Weslake, with premises in Rye

Rye, East Sussex

Rye is a small town in East Sussex, England, which stands approximately two miles from the open sea and is at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede...

, East Sussex, England.

Weslake was a cylinder head specialist who had been instrumental in modifying the side valve standard engine used in the first SS (Swallow Sidecars - later to become Jaguar) sports car. He also worked on the larger SS engine: "The 2½-litre car has an o.h.v. power-unit with Weslake combustion chambers, and gives over 40 b.h.p.