There were two ways of looking at Shoreham Beach in its early days, a century or so ago.

One was seeing it as Bungalow Town, a place where many people lived in disused railway carriages which they had bought and converted into homes.

The other was to regard it as Hollywood-by-Sea, a resort where the early film stars congregated to shoot movies because the light was often so good.

It all started in 1896 when retired naval man John Steaddiford began hiring out converted railway carriages at cheap rents.

The habit caught on and people also found it was possible to buy an old carriage for about £10. Others built bungalows ranging from grim to grand.

In 1913, work started on building the Church Of The Good Shepherd, which has remained a vital part of the community ever since.

Among those who settled on Shoreham Beach were music hall stars. The first was Marie Loftus who built her own bungalow as a holiday home.

Loftus, nicknamed the Sarah Bernhardt of the music hall, encouraged her friends to come down too.

One of the best known was Florrie Forde who opened a nightclub on the beach. Her songs included I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside, Down At The Old Bull And Bush and Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kitbag.

According to local historian Eddie Colquhoun, Billy Williams was the most popular recording artist in Britain in the years leading up to the First World War.

He bought property in Bungalow Town but fell ill in 1915, dying at the early age of 37. He is buried in Mill Road cemetery.

Another beach resident was Ernie Mayne, the first music hall artist to broadcast on the radio in 1922 and be a big star.

Perhaps the most famous of them all was Marie Lloyd, who was also the first woman to own a car on Shoreham Beach, while cross-dressing comedian Vesta Tilly also had a beach bungalow.

With its clear, smog-free air and clear light, it proved a popular base for several film companies, including one using the old fort.

Among the early stars was comedian Lupino Lane while his niece, Ida Lupino, was even more celebrated. She had a beach bungalow before moving to the real Hollywood in 1933.

Some ambitious filmmaking was undertaken on Shoreham Beach, including a version of The Mayor Of Casterbridge.

But it wasn’t always sunny in Shoreham and several bungalows were blown away in gales. Rough seas took away some homes which had been built too close to the shore, while others were damaged by fire.

Bungalow Town survived the First World War but not the Second. The authorities feared a German invasion by sea and residents were given 48 hours to leave.

Only the church remained intact and when the beach reopened in 1947 with new houses being built, all the excitement had gone.

  • Hollywood-by-Sea by Edward and Alice Colquhoun is available to buy at Bookworms in Shoreham High Street for £7.99