Two Victorian silver soup tureens, John Houle, London, 1836

John Houle (21 February 1784 – 13 October 1850) was one of the children of John Houle senior (1748 – 21 January 1828), a chaser, and his wife, Sarah (née Gardner), who were married at St. Alban, Wood Street, City of London on 20 July 1777. During 1811 father and son began their freehold occupancy of 24 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, from where John Houle junior entered his mark on 10 April that year. In his will, signed on 15 November 1827 and proved on 14 February 1828, John Houle senior bequeathed the premises to his son. Upon the latter’s retirement in 1845 the business was continued at the same address by his sons, Daniel John Houle (16 April 1817 – 16 May 1884) and Charles Houle (30 December 1818 – 2 May 1899) under the style of D. & C. Houle, manufacturing silversmiths to the trade. Following D.J. Houle’s death, the business was sold to Charles Stuart Harris.