Edward Perry Warren first saw Lewes House in 1889 and with his partner John Marshall they were prodigious collectors of fine antique sculpture there. Eric Gill was introduced to Warren by Roger Fry and the stone carving Ecstasy purchased, which is now in the Tate Gallery collection. William Rothenstein suggested that Warren might like to acquire Rodin's new sculpture "The Kiss" and after several visits, in 1904 the Lewes "Kiss" arrived at Lewes House. In 1906 Rodin requested that Warren lend "The Kiss" to an important exhibition in Regent Street, London. This made it famous in Britain for the first time. "The Kiss" was returned to the stables at Lewes House, where it remained until 1914 until offered to Lewes Town Council. It was placed in the Town Hall, at the South End of the Assembly Room on 2 December 1914. Early in 1915, "The Kiss" was wrapped in canvas and marked off with a guard rail. The Town Council returned the statue, saying only that the room did 'not lend itself to such a noble piece of statuary.' On 26 February 1917, "The Kiss" was once more taken to the stable block where it was to remain until Warren's death in 1928. After a short period on loan to Cheltenham, "The Kiss" was purchased in 1953 by public subscription and is now one of the Tate's most popular attractions.