Francis Leonard Lyndhurst (born Lindhurst Francis Schmitz; 2 March 1878 – 31 May 1952) was an English theatrical scenery painter, film producer and film director. He is known for setting up an early film studio at Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

Early life Lindhurst Francis Schmitz was born in Kensington, London, England on 2 March 1878.England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: APR 1878 1a 152 KENSINGTON — Lindhurst Francis Schmitz He was baptised, a son of Francis Henry Schmitz, a clerk from Paris, and his wife, Annie Maria (née Mower), at St Clement, Notting Hill in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on 26 May 1878.London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1923: 26 MAY 1878 St Clement, Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, England — Lindhurst Francis Schmitz

Career Lyndhurst's first films, beginning with The Showman's Dream in 1914, were made at Shoreham Fort, by his production company, Sealite, or Sunny South Film Company. He set up the Glasshouse Studio in a nearby, glass-sided, building, in 1915. The business failed and he returned to his former occupation of scenery painting.

Lyndhurst stored his films in a barn, which was destroyed by bombing during World War II. No copies of any of his films are known to survive.

Lyndhurst bought a farm, in order that his sons should avoid fighting in the Second World War. Later a portion of the land was used to build chalets and set up a holiday camp.

Personal life Schmitz married Dorothy Constance "Dora" Rogers in Brentford, Middlesex, in January 1907.England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915: JAN 1907 3a 247 BRENTFORD — Francis Lyndhurst Schmitz = Dorothy Constable Rogers They had five sons together: Francis Geoffrey Lyndhurst (né Schmitz; 1907–1996),England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: OCT 1907 1a 189 FULHAM — Francis Geoffrey SchmitzEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: OCT 1934 3a 527 BRENTFORD — Francis G Lyndhurst = Emily M RobertsEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: JUL 1996 (aged 88) A44B 4 CHICHESTER — Francis Geoffrey Lyndhurst John Bellas L Lyndhurst (né Schmitz; 1912–1992),England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: 1912 3a 351 BRENTFORD — John B L SchmitzEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: OCT 1939 3a 313 UXBRIDGE — John B Lyndhurst = Constance B MarillierEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: JAN 1992 (aged 79) 18 1750 CHICHESTER — John Bellas Lyndhurst Jim "James" Lyndhurst (né Schmitz; 1915–1958),England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: OCT 1915 2b 416 STEYNING — Jim SchmitzEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: OCT 1941 2b 1019 WORTHING — James Lyndhurst = Olive A StreetEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: JAN 1958 (aged 42) 5h 701 CHICHESTER — Jim Lyndhurst Richard Alan Kenneth Lyndhurst (1916–2002),England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: OCT 1916 2b 407 STEYNING — Richard A K LyndhurstEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: OCT 2002 (aged 85) 8BD 54 CHICHESTER — Richard Alan K Lyndhurst and Anthony Arthur Joseph "Joe" Lyndhurst (1924–2000).England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: JAN 1924 3a 204 BRENTFORD — Anthony A J LyndhurstEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: JUL 1947 5h 1088 CHICHESTER — Anthony J Lyndhurst = Yvonne B ElsmoreEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: AUG 2000 (aged 76) B54B 252 CHICHESTER — Anthony Arthur J Lyndhurst

On 18 February 1916, during the First World War, he legally changed his name from Lindhurst Francis Schmitz to Francis Leonard Lyndhurst, because of anti-German sentiment. In October 1916, he unsuccessfully sued a man, John Bull, for libel, for calling him "German", claiming it was the worst possible insult.

Lyndhurst and his wife purchased a piece of land in Lambeth, South London, in 1933. The couple later bought a farm.

Lyndhurst died at his home, Hundred Streddle Farm, in Chichester, Sussex, on 31 May 1952. He was 74.England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: APR 1952 (aged 74) 5h 474 CHICHESTER — Francis L Lyndhurst He was buried in Birdham on 4 June 1952. His widow died in Chichester on 2 April 1964, aged 76.England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: APR 1964 (aged 76) 5h 556 CHICHESTER — Dorothy C Lyndhurst

Lyndhurst is the grandfather of actor Nicholas Lyndhurst, who is best known for his role as Rodney Trotter in Only Fools and Horses, and the great-grandfather of Archie Lyndhurst,England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: NOV 2000 C91C 109 WESTMINSTER — Archie Bjorn Lyndhurst the late actor and designer, who was best known for his role as Oliver 'Ollie' Coulton in So Awkward.

Credits Building a Chicken House Harnessing a Horse Moving a Piano Some Fun Study in Skarlit The Jockey The Showman's Dream Tincture of Iron White Washing a Ceiling

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