1. History
a) At common law land alone could be recovered against an intruder by means of a real action (the Writ of Right) which was called 'real' (Latin, res - a thing) because it involved a property claim for the return of the thing itself.
b) Chattels were not necessarily specifically recoverabe by action at common law. Hence chattels (and all property other than land) were called Personal Property or 'personalty' as opposed to 'realty'.
c) Leases of land, however, fell into the special category of 'chattels real' (contrasted with goods, etc., which were 'chattels personal'. This was because leases were hybireds with some characteristics of realty and some of personalty.

2. The Property Acts 1925
a) They include the Law of Property Act (LPA), the Settled Land Act (SLA), the Administration of Estates Act (AEA), and the Land Registration Act (LRA).
b) Effects
aa) Intestate succession to land and goods have been made uniform.
bb) Copyhold tenure was abolished.
cc) Simplification of conveyancing: categories of legal estates were reduced to a minimum; land could be transferred free from equitable interests.

3. Land law
a) Things beneath the land belong to the owner even if he does not know of them - ELVES v. BRIGG GAS CO. (1886)
b) Fixtures may become part of the land or a building, but not a valuable tapestry - LEIGH v. TAYLOR (1901)