[1816] -he South Metropolitan Gas Company was founded in 1829 and incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1842. The manager was Thomas Livesey, appointed Chief officer in 1839, until his death in 1871 when his son, George, took over as Engineer and Secretary. The first works were at Bankside which had been built in 1814 and sold to the South London GC (later the Phoenix GLCC) in 1821. In 1829, the South Metropolitan GC was formed and selected a site for works adjoining the Grand Surrey Canal on the eastern side of Old Kent Rd. The works were completed by 1833 and the company's offices added in 1834. Small extensions were made in 1843 and mains extended. Barges were acquired to bring in coal and by 1856 there were seven gasholders on the site. After several approaches, the Phoenix GC finally amalgamated with the South Metropolitan GC following an earlier merge with the Surrey Consumers GC in 1879. With these amalgamations the South Metropolitan GC gained gasworks at Rotherhithe St (opened 1851), Vauxhall, Bankside and Thames St, Greenwich. Old Kent Rd