the station was badly bombed in the baedeker raids of 1942 when the main building was largely destroyed. the station was further damaged, along with st philips church, when a badly damaged usaf b24 liberator bomber was deliberately crashed there to avoid greater loss of life. thereafter, the station operated from "temporary" buildings constructed on the site. it was closed to passengers on 2 march 1959 along with most of the midland & great northern system, although the station remained in use for goods traffic until 1969.