The station was built by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway (MSJ&AR), and opened on 22 September 1849, the same day that a short southerly extension to the MSJ&AR line to reach Bowdon was completed from the original Altrincham station of 20 July 1849.
A service of steam-hauled trains ran via Sale station to Manchester Oxford Road.
From 1931 the former Bowdon station site became the repair shop and depot for the electric trains of the newly electrified MSJ&AR.
The depot closed in 1971, and the site was used for the next 30 years as a car park.
The site was redeveloped in the early 21st century.