a market-town in the west riding of Yorkshire, situated at the foot of a hill rising from the left bank of the Calder, and on the line of the Manchester and Leeds railway, eight miles S. by W. of Leeds. Pop. (1851) 3033. This town, though ancient, owes its present importance to the extensive manufactures which are carried on there. These consist chiefly of blankets, carpets, druggets, and an inferior woollen cloth made from rags, which, by powerful machinery, are reduced to wool, and afterwards re-spun and made into the cloth known as shoddy. Dewsbury is connected by canals with Hull and Liverpool. The town is pleasantly situated and generally well built. Part of the principal church is of great antiquity. It was rebuilt in the latter half of the last century in conformity with the original plan, and a great part of the interior was preserved. Dewsbury has a new court-house recently erected, a blanket hall, market cross; also a charity school, free-school, mechanics' institute, and several subscription libraries and news-rooms.