 The station was first opened on 16 July 1874 by the Minehead Railway as Blue Anchor.Suggestions that it was called 'Blue Anchor Excursion Platform' or 'Bradley Gate' have been shown to be incorrect.In 1874 it had only one platform which faced the beach, but the second track and platform were built by the Great Western Railway in 1904 which had taken over the railway in 1897.