View of The Pear Pond at Hestercombe c.1777. Pen & Ink, grey wash.

Coplestone Warre Bampfylde’s watercolour painting of the Pear Pond is the best documentary evidence that has been found for his Arcadian essay of temples, urns, cascades and ponds at Hestercombe. To help inform its restoration, the painting was incorporated along with other historical evidence (primarily 18th century visitor accounts) into a historical survey of the combe compiled by heritage specialists, Debois Landscape Survey Group in 1993-94. A tree stump analysis by Lear Associates followed in 1997.