Holding in Company

Wolseley PLC
16 July 2001

WOLSELEY PLC - SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS



16 July 2001





Wolseley plc hereby notifies that on 12 July 2001 it received notification
from Legal & General Investment Management Limited that Legal & General's
interest in Wolseley plc ordinary 25p shares stood at 2.99%. Following this,
on 13 July 2001, Wolseley plc received a further notification from Legal &
General that consequent upon a transfer of shares Legal & General's interest
in Wolseley plc ordinary 25p shares stood at 3.02% (17,394,092 shares),
identified as follows:

No. of shares     Nominee Name

50,000            HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 775229
1,663,217         HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 886603
2,583,500         HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 775245
541,390           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 252605
328,813           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 360509
452,500           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 770286
11,529,411        HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 357206
41,310            HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 866197
203,951           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 130007





For and on behalf of Wolseley plc



Edward Parker

Assistant Company Secretary