The station was opened, without ceremony, on 1 February 1870 and the first down train to arrive was the 06.15 from St.Pancras. The local press commented; " We have witnessed more fuss over the opening of a drinking fountain". Contemporary descriptions describe "rock faced wall stones...tool dressed and in the style of architecture...Grecian with Gothic headings>An iron and glass roof above the four 700ft x 30ft platforms was supported on 42 columns and a 105ft footbridge was provided. Two open docks were built at the north and a single covered dock at the southern end. Three signal boxes were built.Two expresses and four fasts were sent to London daily and 79 trains passed through the station daily.
Taken from:Rail Centres No11 Sheffield by S.Batty, Ian Allen,1984.