The Founders' Bequest
To implement the terms of the bequest, a Trust was established
and the trustees sought to build premises to commemorate the benefactors.
The original design was to
have featured a tower and possibly a dome, but the necessary finance
was not there and the present day building had to suffice. The final cost of the museum was £1,564.
This used up all the Trust's funds, including what had been set aside
for running costs, and left a deficit of £238.
A public appeal for funds had little success and an admission charge
of 6d (2½ pence) was imposed, modified to 3d (1¼ pence)
for members of "the working classes".
After its completion the museum
quickly acquired a substantial collection of antiquities, fossils,
natural history specimens and coins but finance was a continuing problem.
Charles, a brother of the founders, bequeathed £500 but over £200
had to go to repay loans.
Further bequests of some £1,700
over a period of 25 years, came from nieces of the founders, which
helped alleviate problems but dry rot in 1924 and again in 1955 severely
depleted funds.
Securing The Future
Financial security and long-term sustainability were not assured
until 1975 when the management of the museum was transferred from
the Falconer Trust to Moray District Council.
With the dissolution of the
Falconer Trust in 1992, the Moray Council assumed full responsibility
for the building and its contents. On 22nd March 1995 "The Friends of the Falconer
Museum" was formed under the chairmanship of the late A A Kean,
a local solicitor, to support the activities of the Museum and nearby
Nelson Tower. |