Originally built in 1849 by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway it was a terminus station serving both passengers and livestock for the nearby market.

Freight continued northwards as far as Heathfield until 26 April 1968 when a lorry damaged a bridge at Horsebridge, north of Hailsham.

It had already been earmarked for closure on 7 May, and as such it was not deemed economic to repair the bridge so line was subsequently never reopened to Heathfield.

On 8 September 1968, the last passenger train left Hailsham at 10:30pm and the station and line then closed completely.

A bridge north of the station site also survives although heavily modified and carries a road over the former trackbed which has now become the Cuckoo Trail public footpath.