The station opened in 1840 as part of the original North Midland Railway from Derby to Leeds, Hunslet Lane. The line was built by George Stephenson. In 1844 it was absorbed into the Midland Railway and in 1923 became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway company. On the creation of the nationalised British Railways in 1948 it became part of London Midland Region and in 1957 part of the North Eastern Region. Throughout the early part of the 20th century the station had a thriving goods business with coal trains from the nearby Water Haigh colliery, and sidings serving Armitage brickworks and Bentley's Yorkshire Brewery. There was also parcels traffic for the Rothwell Urban District and homing pigeons were dispatched by fanciers to all parts of the country.