Named after the former public house that used to be located on the crossroads, it was designed by Charles Holden and opened on 19 September 1932.

When first constructed, the station was equipped with nine street level entrances, two of which gave access to tram routes to and from Tottenham, Edmonton and Stamford Hill via tramway island exits into Seven Sisters Road.

The station tunnels have, in common with those of Turnpike Lane and Wood Green, a diameter of 23 feet (7 metres) and were designed for the greater volume of traffic expected.

Next to the northern exit is the former Metropolitan Electric Tramways Headquarters (M.E.T) building, later the Eastern Divisional Office of London Transport Buses.

At the northern end of the eastbound (towards Cockfosters) platform one can hear Victoria line trains running beneath.