These records record the advice offered by the Department of Estate Management to Gonville and Caius College regarding the management of College properties and maintenance of College buildings. The College's Bursar, E.P. Weller (Bursar, 1928-66), himself an expert in estate management, directly employed the services of the Department from the time of its establishment. Upon Weller's retirement, the College employed R. Stafford-Smith (College Surveyor and Land Agent, 1965-69) as its intermediary. The Department acted on behalf of the College following Stafford-Smith's departure until 1970, when Bidwells became the agents for the College estates.

The records consist of valuations and reports on the purchase and sale of property, the construction, repair and maintenance of agricultural and other buildings, the planning and sale of building estates, and repairs to the College fabric; as well as correspondence between correspondence between the Department, the College, tenants and contractors.

(See 'Estates Chronicle' in 'Biographical History' Volume IV for estate histories of particular College properties).

The records consist of:

• Stewards' accounts and record books relating to overall domestic management, particularly for uptake of meals by, and provision of food and supplies for, fellows and students; and accounts for management of the kitchens and supply of provisions to the College. These are supported by additional low level account and record books, such as cooks' accounts and hall books

• minutes and administrative files of the Domestic Bursar relating to the management of building projects, maintenance of the College fabric, furnishings, silver and wine, provision of domestic and kitchen services, and management of personnel

• correspondence and files of the Junior Bursar relating to the management of building projects and maintenance of the College fabric

• architectural plans of College buildings and internally managed College properties.

The records consist of minutes and correspondence files generated in the course of Powell's work as a Fellow, predominantly concerned with his interest as Junior Bursar in the design and upkeep of College fabric