 The area, along with the rest of Ilford, was part of the county of Essex until 1965, when the new borough became a part of Greater London.The station was originally opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1903 on the Fairlop Loop, before being transferred to the London Underground in 1947, and partially rebuilt, but the planned complete re-building has been suspended to this day.Steam services southward to Ilford railway station ceased at this time, the track being lifted by 1956.