THE cradle of Valleys sporting talent like Robbie Regan and Doug Mountjoy is set to re-open to the public - after local people took ownership of it and raised £35,000 to save it.

Fleur-de-Lys Institute opened in 1911 after being paid for by local miners. It operated as a community base for over 80 years, the three-storey building incorporating a library, concert hall, snooker room, gymwith many societies, clubs and groups based there.

Professional snooker player Doug Mountjoy practised there, and former worldchampion boxer Robbie Regan used it as a training base.

But instead of celebrating its centenary in 2011, it lay abandoned after closing in 2009. The building had deteriorated and fell victim to a number of thefts and breakins.

Trustee Darren Jones said: “Over 20 years it deteriorated until it closed in 2009, becoming derelict and abandoned.”

In its final years, it operated as just a pub and snooker hall- but, the trustees slowly disappeared and it closed in 2009.

Locals held a public meeting in September of that year and with help from the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO) were able to take it on.

They had a vision of reopening it for all ages and in two and a half years raised £35,000.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust gave £10,000 and Communities First £4,000 for two new boilers, while Caerphilly council gave an £8,000 grant for new windows.

CISWO gave £7,000 for new alarm systems and local schools are about to start a project to paint murals on the side of the institute after a £4,500 grant for the Arts Council of Wales.

Mr Jones said the paintings will depict the “past, present and future of the Institute”, adding: “We want to turn it back into a community building, with an IT suite in the old library, youth clubs and tea parties for pensioners.”

While the ground and middle floors are in good condition and will re-open later this month, the trustees applied for another £10,000 grant to restore the top-floor gymnasium.

A bar licence has also been applied for to allow the Institute to hold wedding parties.

Mr Jones appealed for local community groups to use it and volunteers to run jumble sales and tea dances.

Abook is also being written on the Institute’s history and anyone with memories, photographs and artefacts can call Mr Jones on 07799 132019.