Holding(s) in Company

Smith WH PLC
24 November 2003

                           SCHEDULE 10
 
             NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES


1)   NAME OF COMPANY

     WH SMITH PLC


2)   NAME OF SHAREHOLDER HAVING A MAJOR INTEREST

     DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL


3)   Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of 
     holding of the Shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a 
     non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a
     holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18

     SEE LETTER BELOW DATED 21 NOVEMBER 2003


4)   Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the 
     number of shares held by each of them.

     SEE LETTER BELOW DATED 21 NOVEMBER 2003


5)   Number of shares/amount of stock acquired.

     N/A


6)   Percentage of issued Class


7)   Number of shares/amount of stock disposed

     N/A

8)   Percentage of issued Class


9)   Class of security

     ORDINARY SHARES OF 55 5/9 PENCE EACH


10)  Date of transaction

     N/A


11)  Date company informed

     21 NOVEMBER 2003


12)  Total holding following this notification

     7,694,570

               
13)  Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification

     3.071%


14)  Any additional information



15)  Name of contact and telephone number for queries

     AMANDA LAM [phone]


16)  Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for 
     making this notification

     Date of Notification ........................24 NOVEMBER 2003


To: W H Smith PLC
Dated: 21 November 2003

Disclosure of Material Interest in Shares 
Companies Act 1985 Section 198

I hereby inform you that as at 21 November 2003 Devon County Council has a 
material interest in the following shares in your company:
 
Registered Holder:      Chase Nominees Ltd.
Amount of Shares:       7,567,205
Percentage of Holding:  3.021%

 
Please note that the County Council does not have a direct holding in the above
mentioned shares but that it is an interested party in these shares by virtue of
its relationship with Hermes Focus Asset Management Limited.

Please also note that in addition to the above holding, the County Council has 
separate interests in the following shares in your company.

Registered Holder:        State Street Bank & Trust Company (Account No. XBIB)
Amount of Shares:         80,000
Percentage of Holding:    0.032%
Registered Holder:        Phildrew Nominees Ltd (a/c Dev)
Amount of Shares:         47,365
Percentage of Holding:    0.019%

From: Devon County Council


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