The station opened on 1 April 1857 by the North Eastern Railway. It was situated on the south side of Commercial Road. Along with Hunwick and Brancepeth, this was one of the first stations to open on the line. Nearby were the Willington (Sunnybrow) and Brancepeth Collieries. The station was closed to passengers on 4 May 1964, although it reopened for Miners Gala in July 1964. The station was closed to goods traffic on 10 August 1964.