Birstall, West Yorkshire
| Birstall | |
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 Statue of Joseph Priestley in Birstall Market Place |
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 Birstall
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| Birstall shown within West Yorkshire | |
| Population | 16,298 (Birstall & Birkenshaw Ward. 2011) |
| OS grid reference | SE241242 |
| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BATLEY |
| Postcode district | WF17 |
| Dialling code | 01924 |
| Police | West Yorkshire |
| Fire | West Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
Birstall is a village and part of the town of Batley in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. It is part of Birstall and Birkenshaw ward which had a population of 16,298 at the 2011 census.Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is situated close to the M62 motorway, approximately 6 miles (10 km) south-west of Leeds. The village is situated between Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield.
Birstall's name is derived from the Anglian burh and stall meaning a fortified site.
Birstall is not mentioned in the Domesday Book but is alluded to as one of two settlements in Gomersal. Pigot's National Commercial Directory for 1828-29 listed it as one of the four villages which make up the township of Gomersal.
The hill fort itself would have been situated high above the village, to one side of the present-day Raikes Lane, which heads towards Gildersome, and onto Leeds. In prehistoric days, trackways ran in various directions from one British settlement to another, one such settlement being on the top of Birstall Hill. This site was chosen for its central location amongst the nearby waterways and its accessibility to and from other nearby hill forts, such as Castle Hill at Almondbury in Huddersfield and Barwick-in-Elmet, near Leeds. Following the course of Fieldhead Lane towards Drighlington is the Roman road of Tong Street. This location would give Birstall a great geographical advantage, making it within easy reach of the main thoroughfares of ancient Yorkshire.
A Roman tiled mosaic was unearthed at Birstall Smithies, a former early industrial slag smelting site, during excavations in 1965. This and a hoard of Roman coins discovered at the foot of Carr Lane, on what was then Birstall Recreation Ground indicate quite succinctly as to the prehistoric origins of Birstall. These coins, which were discovered in the 18th century, dated from 192 to 268 AD.
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