The station, opened in September 1871, was built in the Manchester, Sheffield & Lincolnshire Railway's (MS&LR) "Double Pavilion" style with the main building on the Doncaster bound platform, approach being from Rotherham Road.

This station was provided with a private waiting room reserved for the use of Earl Fitzwilliam and his parties.

This handled some of the traffic to and from South Yorkshire Coke and Chemicals works and, from 1873 via Earl Fitzwilliam's private railway, his colliery interests.

At the buffer stops end of the yard there was a wagon repair facility which closed many years ago.

Immediately on the Parkgate side of the station was a small swing bridge carrying the line over the Greasbrough Canal which necessitated a 10 mph (16 km/h) speed limit, which has been raised since the span was fixed.