The Priory was opened as a convalescent home on 29 August 1930, with up to 150 miners being admitted every two weeks to recuperate from mining injuries. In 1933 the Welfare Committee built a Staff House in the grounds some 200m north of the Priory with two cottages for ground staff at either end. The Staff house later became a nursing home before being converted into apartments. During World War II the Priory served as an emergency hospital for air-raid victims although in the event it was not used as such but was instead used for wounded servicemen, approximately 8,000 of whom were treated there. The Welfare Committee reopened the Priory as a convalescent home in April 1946.