It opened on 10 August 1847 and served nearby Thorp Arch as well as Boston Spa.

The station building was designed by George Townsend Andrews in the Gothic revival style.

[1] Construction of the Thorp Arch Royal Ordnance Factory began in February 1940.

The platforms of Thorp Arch station were extended in June 1941 on order to cope with the increasing passenger traffic.

[3][4] The trackbed can be followed on a bridleway running north to Wetherby and south across Wharfe Bridge to Newton Kyme.