Rainhill station was opened in 1830 as part of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, and is one of the oldest passenger railway stations in the world. These early intermediate stations were often little more than halts, usually positioned where the railway was crossed by a road or turnpike. This probably accounts for variations in the names of these stopping places, The station was originally called "Kendrick's Cross" or "Kendrick's Cross Gate" but this name did not last long, according to Butt (1995) it was changed to "Rainhill" in 1831 and according to Holt (1965) it was known as "Rainhill" by 1838 but not formally changed to "Rainhill" until 1844.