Director Shareholding

Barclays PLC
18 January 2005





                                                                 18 January 2005

         Notification of directors' interests: Companies Act 1985 s.329

The independent trustee of the Barclays Group (ESAS) Employees' Benefit Trust
(the 'ESAS Trust') notified the Company on 17 January 2005 that it had on 14
January 2005 exercised its discretion and released a total of 125,704 ordinary
shares in Barclays PLC. None of the shares released were in respect of an award
made to a director of Barclays PLC.

Following these transactions, the trustees of all the Barclays Group employees'
benefit trusts hold a total of 114,905,890 ordinary shares in Barclays PLC. Mr
Barrett, Chairman, and the executive directors of Barclays are amongst the
potential beneficiaries under these trusts and are therefore regarded for
Companies Act purposes as being interested in the Barclays PLC ordinary shares
held in them.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange