Director Shareholding

Wolseley PLC
19 October 2000

WOLSELEY PLC - DIRECTOR SHARE PURCHASES


Ordinary shares of 25p each


Wolseley plc hereby notifies the following director share option exercise and
associated share purchase, pursuant to the Wolseley Executive Share Option
Scheme. This took place today:


Director's   No. of options      Exercise price per   No. of shares     Date of
      Name        exercised        share (in pence)       purchased    exercise


    Fenton            4,000                  203.25           4,000    19.10.00
      Hord
    Fenton           10,000                  220.75          10,000    19.10.00
      Hord



As a result of the above, Mr Hord now holds 24,000 ordinary 25p shares in the
Company.



For and on behalf of Wolseley plc



Edward Parker

Assistant Company Secretary