THE use of a bequest to the people of Stockton to buy historic artefacts has been questioned by former museum collections worker.

The Spence Fund was used by Stockton Borough Council last month to purchase a set of apothecary scales thought to have been used by the inventor of the friction match, Stockton chemist John Walker, for Preston Hall Museum in Eaglescliffe.

But, according to Jo Faulkner, who worked for Stockton's museum service for 14 years and was part of the collections team until last year, using the money to buy new artefacts was against the wishes of Colonel Gilbert Ormerod Spence.

He left the money, along with a major armoury collection, after he died in a car crash on Leven Bank, near Yarm in 1925.

Ms Faulkner believes it was clear that Col Spence wanted the fund to help establish a public building on Church Row to display his collection, preserve the memory of his parents and hold public events including plays and concerts. The building was never constructed.

Ms Faulkner, of Yarm, who has a copy of a 1938 High Court judgement on the bequest following a dispute between Stockton Corporation and Barclays Bank, said: "Even if they've sorted this out legally, which they probably have, it doesn't make it ethically or morally right."

However the council claims a deed, dated March 7, 2014, justifies the purchase, stating; "The funds can be used to procure (on behalf of the Trustees) other items worthy of preservation.”

A Stockton Council spokesman said: “Colonel Spence is one of Stockton’s most famous sons and we will always be grateful for his generosity.

“The Spence Bequest not only enables us to proudly maintain and display the artefacts Spence himself left to us but also to acquire other items worthy of preservation or conservation with the Spence Collection."

Col Spence was born in Hartburn, Stockton in 1879 and educated privately in Harrogate and Uppingham. He briefly took part in the family business but then joined the Durham Light Infantry in 1900.

He went on fight in the First World War and was wounded in 1918 but was still purchasing battle and war antiques from Sothebys while in hospital. He was awarded the DSO and was mentioned in despatches three times.

Before his bequest Stockton had no museums or collections service and it grew from his generosity. The collection, which includes weapons going back to at least the 16th Century, was stored in a quayside warehouse until Preston Hall was bought by the council in the years following the Second World War.

A new store room was recently named in his honour at the restored Preston Museum. His collection has now been entirely catalogued but has not been valued.