Description and History of Site:-
South Metropolitan Gas Co works designed by George Livesey. Started production 1886 from 2250 horizontal retorts. Extensively modernised after 1949 nationalisation with construction of coke ovens and water-gas plant. Its first hydrocarbon reforming plant in production by 1963. Coal-gas production ceased 1968 and water-gas production 1971. After final conversion of South East London to natural gas, 1976, reforming plant closed. At zenith, largest gas works in Europe, producing 72 million cu. ft/day. of town gas. 200-acre site also included tar works and chemical by-products works. Original site now disused. Gas Holder No. 1, TQ393794, built 1886, was world's first four-lift holder, 250 ft in diameter with guide columns 198 ft high, capacity 8. 6 million capacity 8. 6 million cu. ft. Gas Holder No. 2 built 1891, now demolished. T-shaped jetty, TQ395800, one of few remnants from original works, is massive example of Victorian engineering, 500 ft long, built on huge cast-iron columns, c. 1890. South of jetty is range of buildings, probably late C19th, containing large washroom, formerly contained blacksmiths' forge and maintenance workshops. Massive precast concrete Storage Shed, TQ397796, with parabolic roof, c. 1947, for storage of ammonium sulphate demolished during regeneration of the site for the Millennium Dome. Gas holder No 1 demolished 2021. Most other buildings also now demolished.

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Key Words :-

Address :- Grenfell St, Blackwall Lane, London, Greater London, SE10
Grid Ref :- TQ 389 803
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.504572 , Long -0.000086
Local Authority :- Greenwich
Pre 1974 County :- Greater London Council
Site Status :- partly extant
Site Condition :- Site redeveloped to mixed use
Site Dates :- 1886 -
Record Date :- 2 June 2018

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