Lewes House, High Street Lewes
Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LX
Lewes House is a Grade II* listed building. Its history goes back to the early part of the 18th century when some of the Georgian features of the property were thought to have been built around an earlier two storey medieval core. The present substantial house of five bays with red dressings and grey header brickwork to the main High Street elevation is credited to Henry Jackson in 1812.
The modern history of the House begins in April 1890, when the American art collector, Edward Perry Warren, took a lease before purchasing it in 1913. It became a centre for the study of classical art and a museum for all kinds of art and Oscar Wilde, was a frequent visitor, as were members of the Bloomsbury Group, one of whom, the artist Roger Fry, painted a watercolour of the House and garden in 1910 (now on display in Lewes House). One of Warren's most notable friends was the sculptor Auguste Rodin, who stayed at Lewes House in 1903, during which time he proposed to exchange some of his own works for a Greek Aphrodite Warren owned. Warren ended up buying five of Rodin's sculptures and commissioned Rodin to design the best-known version of the larger-than-life-size 'The Kiss' ('Le Baiser'), The huge Pentelican marble sculpture was executed between 1901 and 1904 and arrived at Lewes House in 1906. Warren had paid Rodin £1,000 for the sculpture. After a very chequered career, this famous and frequently copied artwork entered the Tate Gallery's collection in 1953.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 14 September:
- 10.00 and 17.00
- Sunday 15 September:
- 10.00 and 17.00
Location & directions
Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2LX
- Directions:
- Lewes House is situated on the south side of the High Street, just below the war memorial.
- Contact on day:
- Peter Earl
- Telephone number:
- +447772031269
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There is a level access to the rear, suitable for wheelchairs, from Church Lane. Follow direction signs.
Additional information
Within the building there is : A Lewes History Group featuring material about its activities and a display showing the results and discoveries in the town and 'Street Story' projects undertaken by its members. Also, the Friends of Lewes, the town's civic society, will be displaying material about their past and present work and the history of Lewes House, including its link with Auguste Rodin's 'The Kiss' statute which was brought to the house in 1904.Within the gardens to the house teas and refreshments will be available courtesy of the Lewes Therapeutic Gardening Group.
