Holding in Company

Wolseley PLC
1 August 2001


WOLSELEY PLC - SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS

1 August 2001

Wolseley plc hereby notifies that on 1 August 2001 Wolseley plc received
notification from Legal & General Investment Management Limited that following
a sale of shares on 31 July 2001 Legal & General's interest in Wolseley plc
ordinary 25p shares stood at 2.99% (17,219,979 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
11,395,298        HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 357206
41,310            HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 866197
163,951           HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 130007



For and on behalf of Wolseley plc


Edward Parker

Assistant Company Secretary