Lionel Francis Crane was the son of the artist and designer Walter Crane (1845-1915). He was born in London, England on 6 May 1876 and was articled to Reginald Theodore Blomfield (1856-1942) from 1892 to 1895. He was then an improver with Ernest George (1839-1922), and with Andrew Noble Prentice (1866-1941). From 1897 to 1902 he attended the Royal Academy Schools in London. He commenced independent practice as an architect in London in 1900. Shortly after he formed a partnership with Detmar Blow (1867-1939) which was dissolved in c.1905. Later, he formed a partnership with William Staveley Willan (1884-1974).
He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects FRIBA) in 1921.
He exhibited frequently at the Royal Academy in London from 1898 to 1921. He also exhibited at the New Gallery in London and participated in the 6th (1899), 7th (1903), 8th (1906), 9th (1910), and 10th (1912) exhibitions of the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society in London. A model of a country house by him was shown in the British Arts and Crafts Section of the Ghent International Exhibition in 1913.
His address was given as Beaumont Lodge, Wood Lane, Hammersmith, London in 1881; 14 North Audley Street, Grosvenor Square, London in 1911; 13 Holland Street, Kensington, London in 1898 and 1911; 96 Church Street, Chelsea, London in 1914 and 1930; and 3 South End House, Montpelier Row, Twickenham, Middlesex in 1935 and 1939, He died in London in 1943.
St. John at Hackney Church Institute renovations; New Assembly Hall, caretaker's house, etc.; "Highfields," Marlow-on-Thames; houses at Bournemouth, and Welwyn, Herts, etc.: cottages at Letchworth, Herts: Romford Garden Suburb, &c.; house in Devonshire for T. H. Spry; &c., &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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Remodelling of the St. John at Hackney Church Institute (new assembly hall, caretaker's house, etc.); "Hlghfields, Harlow, Bucks; houses at Letchworth, Welwyn, Squirrels Heath, Romford, and Beaworthy (Devonshire), etc. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1923]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001