To provide a spindle device of a work roll shifting mill with which the damage of a slipper metal type coupling is prevented by imparting a clearance in the axial direction to the slipper coupling part by taking the movement in the axial direction caused by the ascending and descending motion of the work rolls during rolling into consideration.

This device is provided with the spindle 3 for transmitting driving torque from a driving motor to the work roll 1 through the slipper metal type couplings 4, 5, spindle shifting cylinders 18 with which the spindle 3 is made to mechanically followed the work roll 1 during shifting by pressing the spindle 3 against the work roll 1 before the work roll 1 is shifted and short stroke cylinders 19 by which the mutual couplings 21, 22 of the couplings 4 on the side of the roll are brought into contact by pressing the spindle 3 against the work roll 1 together with the spindle shifting cylinders 18 before the work roll 1 is shifted and the clearance t is imparted between the couplings 21, 22 after the shifting of the work roll 1 is completed.