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Rootes, one of Britain's largest car manufacturers during the middle of the 20th century, was founded in Hawkhurst in 1913 by William Rootes as a car sales company.

A few years later Rootes moved to Maidstone where he later opened a factory (at TQ760555). During the second World War the company was moved to the heart of the British motor industry in Coventry. The group made the Humber, Sunbeam, Talbot, Singer, Hillman, Karrier and Commer brands, as well as trucks and military vehicles during war time.