The first station was built by the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company Limited (METESCo) and commissioned in 1899. It was taken over by the London Power Company Limited in 1924. It was one of four stations (the others being Bow, Deptford East and Grove Road, Saint John's Wood) which continued following the formation of the London and Home Counties Joint Electricity Authority in 1925, which resulted in closure of many smaller stations in central London.