The station was first opened by the South Eastern Railway in 1866 as Eltham. In 1892 it was renamed Eltham & Mottingham. In 1927 it became Mottingham. The goods yard on the down side to the west of the platforms included a large coal office. A footbridge linking the two platforms was opened in the 1890s. Half a dozen sidings used for rolling stock were built around 1900 on the down side opposite the goods yard.