Originally from Norwich in Norfolk (UK) John and his wife arrived in France in 1835, as John entered the service of Richard Seymour Conway (fourth Marquis of Hertford) as coachman at his main Parisian home of 2 rue Laffitte, near the Opera.
The Marquis of Hertford had been brought up in France by his mother, and being a keen horseman he bought in 1835 the Chateau de Bagatelle, inside Bois de Boulogne; the ideal place for coaching and riding.
He was very fond of race horses and played an active role in the birth of the racing activity in Paris under Napoleon III.

After serving seven years as second coachman to Mr. Charles Spencer Cowper with his father John, Edwin Howlett established himself in business. He started with ten horses and seven carriages at 15 Rue Jean Goujon, Paris in 1860. At the time, the district consisted of only 6 houses.
By 1865 Edwin started teaching driving and could do so in the four languages he had learnt during his experience abroad: English, French, Italian (as coachman to Princess Bacciochi) and German (as coachman to Prince Pericles Gikha in Vienna).

In 1895 Edwin moved to 24 rue des Belles Feuilles, and in 1907 the stables were enlarged to 22 rue des Belles feuilles. By that time, he gave 1200 four-in-hands driving lessons per year.

The history of Howletts in the U.S.A. reported by articles from the New York Times.

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In 1965 Albert decided to move to the outskirts of Paris and realized his dream riding academy at Domaine de Vaux: two indoor riding arenas, two outdoor arenas next to the forest, and a hundred and thirty thatched-roofed stables.
Most riders of rue de la ferme in Neuilly having become friends, they moved along with the Howletts towards Mesnil le roi.

Back from the UK at the end of WWII, Jim started his own stables in St Germain en Laye. His riding academy was open to horse owners as well as members of the riding club. Ponies were represented in his stables as well as horses.
Besides the riding academy activities, Jim and his wife Sidonie organised rally evenings. Among the habitues of the stables was the Hon. Count of Paris, the heir to the French throne.