Here is the link to the Batley mills closing thread from a couple months ago:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/b...ghlight=batley


In that thread you will find the address for N Batley mills:

N Batley Ltd.
Woodland Mill
Dale Street
Huddersfield
HD3 4TG
West Yorkshire

Tel: 01484 427874
Fax: 01484 485420

www.tartan-fabric.co.uk

You will see that they are not made is Wales but rather Yorkshire in the north of England. While not scottish, they are pretty close to the Borderlands where much of the scottish tartan is milled.

I have 13oz Batley Torridon tartan in a kilt and it is great quality, especially for the value you get becasue their prices are lower than any other mills weaving tartan, in general. I have felt their 16 oz tartan at several games and it too is of good quality, such that I would not fear the weight or quality of the material from thier mills to be significantly inferior, and doubt that most folks on this forum would be able to tell them apart from other mills comparable weight tartan, with a blindfold in place. As previously stated their colors do tend to be more muted across the board than others, but getting a swatch would help you know what to expect from them.

By the way, Nick from scotweb is a forum member and can be reached by PM under the forum name of Nick (Scotweb) or through the Scotweb forum heading here in the vendors section if not through Scotweb's customer service contacts. If you only live a stone's throw away I would believe him likely to be able to let you see/feel a swatch onsite or at least cut you a deal on getting it to your flat. Contact him directly with your questions.

I, like Jock (Hi Jock!), believe that your family name tartan worn proudly in kilt form would be the best way to demonstrate your love for your new found home. My family tartans (Forrester Modern and Hunting) only date back a couple decades, but are the official tartans of my Clan Association, and as such I wear them proudly, moreso than I would a more universal tartan like Caledonia or Flower of Scotland. Our "clan" is actually one of the Border clans, some English, some Scots, some changing allegiances on a whim historically, and when chased back geneologically far enough probably not even initially scottish, but rather Flemish in origin.

I see nothing "un-Scottish" about wearing a Welsh family tartan of recent development in a proper scottish kilt, especially if done so with pride. You are bringing your Welsh ancestry into your current life and melding it with your love of your new home in Scotland. If you do find some other scottish links through geneological research more power to you to get kilts in those tartans as well, if you like. If you do NOT find geneologic scottish links, as others have stated you can always expand your kilt selection with universal tartans (Black Watch, Royal Stewart), generic Scotland tartans (Caledonia, Pride of Scotland, Flower of Scotland, Heritage of Scotland, etc...), district tartans of where you live or have visted and found joy and great memories (Isle of Skye, Black Isle, Manx, etc...), choose the Bruce tartan which many hold as universal as well, or just any clan tartans that suit your particular fancy, as long as they are not in offense of any of those particular clan's associations and charters (several are restricted). There are non Scottish tartans----career tartans (firefighter's memorial), military (if you have a military background that waqrrants you wearing it), corporate tartans, US and Canada state/provincial tartans, generic tartans from non-scottish countries (Maple Leaf, American Heritage, Dutch Friendship), and many many more to choose from. Just find your own connection and have your own reasons for choosing what you decide to purchase and wear. Heck you can even design your own and name it what you want and register it with the STA, then have it woven into tartan and have a kilt made out of it.

But (like Jock) I believe there is nothing as strong as blood and family, and personally I would say wear your family tartan, regardless of its vintage or origin, as long as you like its looks.

Jeff