[4] The station occupies the north end of the former Thames foot tunnel built by Marc Isambard Brunel between 1825 and 1843, and subsequently adapted for railway traffic.

The earliest trains were provided by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, whose system connected with the line at New Cross Gate.

[9][10] In 1980 a London Underground plan to extend the Jubilee line to Woolwich Arsenal and Beckton was approved by Parliament.

Vitreous enamel panels by Nick Hardcastle,[12][13] showing the station and the area in former and modern times, were installed on the platforms.

The proposed extension of the East London line raised concerns that the station would have to be closed due to its platforms being too short (only four cars long) to accommodate the new rolling stock planned for the extended line (which could be six or eight cars long).