The station opened in 1879 as "Old Swan & Knotty Ash". It was renamed "Knotty Ash & Stanley" in 1888, but it was always referred to locally simply as "Knotty Ash". The station nameboards read "Knotty Ash".[6]
It closed to passengers on 7 November 1960, to general goods in 1965 and completely in 1972.[citation needed]
The line through the station was used by freight trains until 1975. The tracks were lifted in early 1979.[citation needed]