It害羞草研究所檚 probably one of the only dungeons in Chilliwack, and it was built just in time for Halloween.
Rob Forde recently transformed a crawl space corridor into a dungeon for homeowners Sherri and Mark Gore. But the Gores害羞草研究所� home isn害羞草研究所檛 your typical house 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 a custom-built castle.
They prefer an old and rustic look, not new white walls with straight edges, Mark said. Their home has been a work-in-progress for the past seven years and they moved into it a year ago. When Forde saw the castle, it was the both the exterior and interior that gave him inspiration to create the dungeon.
The corridor, which is now a dungeon, is a small area with 10-foot high ceilings that leads to the Gores害羞草研究所� crawl space.
At the top of the stairs leading down to the dark space, the words 害羞草研究所渂eware la oubliette害羞草研究所� are carved into the ceiling. 害羞草研究所楲a oubliette害羞草研究所� is French for 害羞草研究所榩it dungeon,害羞草研究所� Forde said.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the most famous kind of dungeon, the kind where they just throw the guys in the pit and then walk away,害羞草研究所� he said.
It took about three months for Forde to transform the space. He used a variety of items like a metal gate and a lock that were just lying in the Gores害羞草研究所� crawl space, plus a shield they had. Forde found other things at auctions, used beams of wood from a local barn that was torn down, and got his hands on a 害羞草研究所榯ongue害羞草研究所� from a horse wagon that he used as a stairway railing.
What looks like a stone-carved ceiling is actually Styrofoam that害羞草研究所檚 been cut out and painted grey. A wooden bowl sitting on a table for the 害羞草研究所榩risoner害羞草研究所� is actually an old cheese press from a Dutch family in Yarrow.
Forde even etched names in a beam like Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin.
害羞草研究所淭hey all spent time in here,害羞草研究所� Mark joked.
Many items were incredibly hard to find, but bit by bit, it finally came together.
害羞草研究所淏ringing everything together to create something that害羞草研究所檚 from 500 years ago, that害羞草研究所檚 the key,害羞草研究所� Forde said.
They call it a 害羞草研究所楧isney dungeon害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� a place that害羞草研究所檚 scary, but not too scary. And it害羞草研究所檚 not just a uniquely designed space, it害羞草研究所檚 also functional.
On one door, Forde used an old piece of logging chain and a deer antler for a handle. It seems like the door would lead to an underground tunnel, but when you open it up all that害羞草研究所檚 visible is a piece of plywood and water pipes with shut-off valves.
害羞草研究所淎ll of this is mean to be practical, so they can access their water shut-off and it害羞草研究所檚 nice and safe, but at the same time have fun with it,害羞草研究所� Forde said.
They connected about three years ago when the Gores were looking for a shield and found one that Forde was selling for $50.
害羞草研究所淚 really like weird stuff,害羞草研究所� Mark said. He added that he and his wife often find things that no one else wants, which brings the cost down quite a bit.
Forde has been transforming private basements and garages into mini pubs and other unique spaces for years.
READ MORE:
The Gores invited Forde into their castle home a few years ago and Forde threw ideas at them. The Gores liked his suggestions and so he did a few small projects including an arched ceiling and a door, but the dungeon is his biggest project in their home.
害羞草研究所淓very castle has a dungeon,害羞草研究所� Forde said.
He害羞草研究所檚 been to about 10 castles in Ireland, England and Scotland which is where he got most of his ideas to create 害羞草研究所榣a oubliette.害羞草研究所� Sherri also threw some great, creative ideas at him, Forde added.
But, he wouldn害羞草研究所檛 let the family see it while he was working on it.
害羞草研究所淗e hid it from us until the finale,害羞草研究所� Gore added.
Forde used a blanket in the doorway leading down to the crawl space so the Gores couldn害羞草研究所檛 see what was going on in the dungeon.
害羞草研究所淚 wanted to have some kind of a reveal because that害羞草研究所檚 what they do on TV. That害羞草研究所檚 the funnest part.害羞草研究所�
Forde finished the dungeon in time for the Gores to show it to family and friends for Halloween.
