The station was opened by the Bedale and Leyburn Railway on 19 May 1856, and served the village of Spennithorne.

It closed temporarily on 1 March 1917, before reopening on 18 September 1920.

[1] Mr Francis Johnson was the station master for three years prior to 1908 after which he moved to Scruton railway station.

[2] The station was 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Spennithorne, just within the civil parish of Constable Burton.

Business was always likely to be small at this remote location, and in the 30 years to 1914 the station averaged 2,616 passengers a year, with receipts of £289.