Buried deep inside the countryside and carved from a rocky outcrop is a cave that is testament to one man's commitment to quit the rat race and embrace the wilderness.
So determined was Millican Dalton to escape the city life, he set up home in the empty Lake District cavern for 40 years. He survived by baking his own bread and making his own clothes in the dark recesses of his home.
Born to a Quaker family in 1867, Millican moved to London at seven following his father's death, reports the Mirror. He went on to work as an insurance clerk but when he reached 40 years old, he decided he wanted a simpler life in the countryside.
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Soon after he moved to Loughton in Buckinghamshire and set up home in a wooden shack in the winter times as well as camping in the Lake District during the summer.
Finally, in the 1920s, Millican moved permanently to the Lake District into the mysterious quarried cave in Borrowdale - where he was said to live a happy life.
Millican baked his own bread, made his own clothes and was known locally for his eccentric outfits and love of dark coffee and Woodbine cigarettes. He also worked as a climbing and walking guide and offered camping trips for those visiting the area.
Visitors who spent time with Millican often spoke of the sense of peace and relaxation that they felt after spending time with him. In a newspaper article in 1941, Millican, who was 73 years old at the time spoke of his love for nature.
He said: “I don’t sleep much, and while I am awake I lie and listen and think. There’s a lot to think about just now, isn’t there?
"All the sounds of the nights, the roar of the mountain stream, the barking of our dogs and foxes, the cries of birds, how can I be lonely with such company?"
Millican Dalton's Cave is made up of two inter-connected spilt-level caves, which were formed naturally as part of the slate quarry process.
To this day, visitors to the caverns can find a message carved on the walls by the free-spirited philosopher, which reads "don't Waste Worrds (sic), Jump to Conclusions".
Unfortunately, Millican died in hospital in February 1947 aged 79 after suffering from pneumonia. A blue plaque in his name was installed on the exterior wall of his former cottage in Loughton.
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