Millican Dalton

Born on 20 April 1867 at Nenthead, Alston, Cumberland, Dalton spent his early life in the northwest of England before his family moved to Essex.

He became an insurance clerk in London, living in Loughton where he owned a cottage, and slept under canvas in the garden, but at the age of 36, he gave up this existence and went to live in a rough wooden shack, and in a cave (which he dubbed "The Cave Hotel") in Borrowdale, from where he offered camping and adventure holidays, as reported in the BBC's Countryfile programme broadcast on 20 September 2015.

Loughton Town Council resolved in 2021[1] to erect a blue plaque to him on the house he lived in the garden of, Walnut Cottage, Stony Path.

To this day, evidence of Dalton's existence can be seen in the upper chamber of the cave, where a carving on the caverns wall warns visitors "Don't Waste Worrds (sic), Jump to Conclusions".

This phrase held relevance to the argument as Millican often told his friend “Don’t waste words,” or “Don’t jump to conclusions.” An alternative lifestyler long before the term was created, Dalton was a vegetarian, pacifist and teetotaller – lived off his wits, surviving on a small income as a climbing guide.

Blue plaque placed by Loughton Town Council on Dalton's home
Photograph of the large "living room" from the small "bedroom" of "The Cave Hotel". The "living room" is on a lower level and is relatively flat, with a raised platform of rocks towards the rear. This was possibly to provide a drier area, as the floor is wet with dripping water towards the front of the cave. At the time of visiting (February 2023), there was a fire platform and crude log bench in the centre of the living area. There was a bit of a scramble up to the "bedroom" area, which has a separate entrance/exit.
View of large "living room" from small "bedroom" of "The Cave Hotel".
Photograph of entrance to "bedroom" area of cave, which is above and to the right of the main entrance to the "living room" area. The inscription can be seen low down on the left hand wall at the entrance.
Entrance to "bedroom" area. The inscription can be seen low down on the left hand wall at the entrance.
Inscription carved in rock wall at entrance to "bedroom": "DON'T !! WASTE WORRDS [OR] Jump to conclusions" It looks like the 2nd "R" in "WORRDS" was added later, that there is likely to be a missing "OR" (piece of rock probably fell off), and the 2nd part of the inscription was added later or by another hand.
Inscription at entrance to "bedroom", above and to right of main entrance, to "living room".