Batley is a former mill town in the borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England, a few miles west of Leeds and close to Dewsbury. It grew up in the 19th century around the textile trade and became particularly known for the shoddy and mungo industries - the recycling of woollen cloth - so Victorian mills and terraced streets still define much of the townscape.
Today Batley is a multicultural community with a strong South Asian presence, cultural highlights such as the Bagshaw Museum and the legacy of the old Batley Variety Club, and a proud rugby‑league tradition in the Batley Bulldogs. The local economy has moved from heavy textiles to light industry, retail and services, with ongoing regeneration work aimed at balancing heritage preservation and new opportunities.