Francis Lyndhurst

Francis Lyndhurst was an English theatrical scenery painter, film producer and film director, who set up an early film studio at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.[1]

Francis Lyndhurst
Occupation	Painter, film producer, film director

Lyndhurst's first films, beginning with The Showman’s Dream in 1914, were made at Shoreham Fort by his production company (called Sealite[1] or Sunny South Film Company[2]). The next year, he set up the Glasshouse Studio in a nearby, glass-sided, building.[3] The business failed and Lyndhurst returned to his former occupation of scenery painting.[2][3]

During World War II the barn in which Lyndhurst stored his films was destroyed by bombing. No copies of any of his films are known to survive.[3]

Lyndhurst had four sons; in order that they should avoid fighting in the Second World War, he bought a farm. Later, a portion of land was used to build chalets and set up a holiday camp. One of his four grandchildren is the actor Nicholas Lyndhurst.[1][4]