Violet Pinwill (1874-1957) is known as one of the most distinguished local wood carvers of the late Victorian era. She began wood working when her father, the vicar of Ermington, secured funds for the restoration of the church, and her mother hired an instructor to teach their seven daughters wood working. Pinwill later formed a wood carving company with two of her sisters. (Shouldn't someone be writing a novel about the seven wood working girls?!)