Reinforced earth structures and facing units therefor

A reinforced earth structure comprising a plurality of integral facing units;

• each said facing unit comprising a facing element having a front surface and a rear surface, a base extending rearwardly from said rear surface at a lower part thereof across substantially the full width of said lower part, and at least one anchoring element of lesser width than the base extending upwardly from the base and having a retaining surface spaced rearwardly from and facing towards said rear surface to form behind said rear surface a space extending downwardly from the upper most part of said facing unit;
• said facing units being arranged so that said facing elements thereof extend substantially vertically and combine to form a wall;
• and anchoring members secured to anchoring elements of selected facing units and extending rearwardly therefrom into compacted earth behind said units, each anchoring member having a part thereof lying within said space and capable of moving downwardly therein in response to compaction and settlement of said earth.