It was built by the Midland Railway and was designed by the company architect John Holloway Sanders[2] and opened in 1870 called Ecclesall.

The station buildings were situated at road level with access by steps to the island platform.

The station buildings and platforms were finally removed in the 1980s, but the stationmaster's house survives as a private home.

In July 2017, it was proposed by Local Enterprise Partnership that new stations should be built at Millhouses and Heeley as well as new platforms at Dore & Totley.

In 2020, local MP Olivia Blake wrote to the transport secretary asking him to consider the reopening of the station, suggesting it would reduce congestion in the area.