Director Shareholding

Smith WH PLC
16 November 2000



WH SMITH PLC (the 'Company')

WH Smith Employees' Share Trust 1999 (the 'Trust')

In accordance with Chapter 16 Paragraph 13 of the Listing Rules, notification is
hereby given that:

On 16 November 2000 the Trustee of the above Trust, Mourant & Co. Trustees
Limited, purchased 1,361,190 Ordinary Shares of 55 5/9pence each ('Shares') at a
price of 462.99 pence per share.  The Company was notified of this transaction
today.  As a result of this transaction the Trust now holds 3,383,154 Shares
(1.35% of the issued class).

The Trust is a discretionary trust and is used to facilitate the acquisition of
shares for the purpose of satisfying awards and options granted under the
Company's share schemes.

The following executive directors of the Company, being potential beneficiaries
of the Trust, are considered to be interested in these shares:
     
     R G Handover
     T M Hely Hutchinson
     Ms B C Hodson
     J A Warren
     L J Wigglesworth.