It was opened in 1847 by the Midland Railway on the Erewash Valley Line at the junction of a short branch to the town itself.

Passengers would use farm tracks and the canal towpath to reach its isolated location.

[4] Since the latter passed through the north curve of the junction, they were unable to call at the station.

The same was true of Nottingham trains when they ran on the short-lived branch between Bennerley Junction and Basford.

In the Grouping of all lines (into four main companies) in 1923 the station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway .