Director Shareholding

Wolseley PLC
4 January 2001

WOLSELEY PLC - DIRECTOR SHARE PURCHASES



4 January 2001



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 exercise
     Name       exercised      share (in pence)      purchased       / purchase


     Jake          10,000                203.25         10,000           4.1.01
   Thomas



As a result of the above, Mr Thomas now holds 66,772 ordinary 25p shares in
the Company.



For and on behalf of Wolseley plc



Edward Parker

Assistant Company Secretary