A historic moment
A milestone in time
The issued royal charter
By Victoria’s sign
To grant this town
Of shoddy fame
The right to define
Its future aims
A rise in fortunes
An industrial boom
Mills built high
On fortunes fumes
Population growth
A rapid advance
This town needed more
Than being left to chance
And so it began
The petition drawn
The path to a borough
That day be born
Dear people of Batley
Your town’s future fate
Was defined by a charter
On December the eighth.