Shistons/Proberts, King William Street

Can anyone give me any information on William and Anne Shiston who ran a chemist shop in King William Street in the early 1900s? The shop may have been called Proberts.

William Shiston was born in Ryton, Shropshire c 1835 In the 1881 Census he and his wife Anne and 3 children lived at Wrenbury Street, West Derby, Liverpool - he is listed as Chemists Assistant In 1891 they are at Paynes Lane, Coventry, William shown as Druggists Assistant In 1901 they are in Canterbury Street, Coventry, with William listed as Drug House Counterhand William died in 1911 The 1912 Directory for Coventry lists Mrs Anne Shiston, 76 King William Street, drug store Hope this helps

Thank you, do you know the name of the shop? My grandfather (another William Shiston) was sure it was called Proberts and I do know that William and Anne's daughter Edith married a Probert at St Peter's Church. But can't work out why the shop would be called Probert?

No luck, I'm afraid In 1901 census, 76 King William Street was a chemists run by Thomas W Williamson In 1891 census, it was the abode of a widow, Sarah Ashmore, and not a shop

I was brought up in Hillfields, born in 1943. I know there was a chemist called Douthwaites and my Uncle tells me there was one called Shistons. He seems to think that Shistons was not actually on the front of King William St but in the small alleyway that led up to The Howitzers Club. This was called Inchley Buildings and my Mother was born there. I also keep having the name Pinsons come into my head and seem to think this was a chemist. Don't know if this is any help to you, regards jan.

Thank you so much for your reply. I have never heard of the Inchley Buildings or the Howitzers Club so your uncle's recollections are really interesting. Can you tell me where about the alley way was in relation to King William St? I know they lived in Canterbury St and their two daughters married at St Peters Church. As I am not from Coventry, it was exciting to find that I had some relatives who lived here.

The alley way was between a paper shop and an off licence in King William St, a couple of doors away from D-di Mascio the ice cream parlour. Sorry not to have got back to you before not been on the site for a while, regards Jan.

Hi Jan Pinson's chemist was at Jeffrey Wood's Cross, on the corner of Harnall Lane and Swan Lane.

Of Course it was Tricia... I remember now, I used to go in there on the way to Freddies and get liquorice wood sticks and Horlicks tablets in a little tin!

Oh, those Horlicks tablets in a little tin, so yummy. My Mum used to sell them when she managed the grocer shop. I kept the tin for years to keep pins in. Thank you for that lovely memory Mayjan. And of course the liquorice wood sticks. I wonder if it did your teeth any good ?