The origin of the ownership of land

Technically land belongs to the Crown. 
The idea was originated from Norman Conquest in 1066.
During this period, William the Conqueror, the King admitted that he is the owner of all land in England. 
The king developed a land holding system. 
The king allowed the people to occupy and use the land in return of performance of certain services. 
The new holder of the land is known as tenant. 
The tenant will occupy and use the land or even allow others to use and occupy the land in return for services to them. 
This concept is known as subinfeudation. 
The nature of service provided by tenant to the lord is based on the types of tenure. 
These include free tenure and unfree tenure. 
Free tenure includes chivalry, socage and spiritual. 
Free tenure is characterized by fixed and certain services provided to the land. 
Unfree tenure is customary and villeinage. 
Unfree tenure is characterized by services which are not fixed in terms of nature and duration to the Lords. 
Nowadays, the concept of tenure has been less practical. 
The free tenure is available in the form of free and common socage which is known as freehold. 
The freehold tenant does not provide services to the lord. 
The feudal pyramid of land holding has disappeared. 
The freehold tenant holds the land directly from the Crown. 
Someone owning a freehold land has proprietary rights over the land which amount to absolute ownership. 
However, the land is still belong to the Crown. 
The most each individual could gain over a land is the proprietary rights to use, posses and enjoy the land known as estate. 
There are two forms of estate which include freehold estate as mention above and leasehold estate.