how do i investigate proper root of title

[gavski77]

[another-view]

Have you tried digging it up? The roots should be on the bottom.

[buildersmate]

Generally you don't - you get a solicitor to do it for you.
It relates to land that is not registered with the land registry, and involves examination of the various conveyancing documents that have transferred the land from one party to another over a long period of time to see that the present 'owner' can reasonably make the claim to own the land in question.
Sometimes 15 years of documentary evidence is regarded as enough.

[humpy07]

It does involve instructing a Solicitor I'm afraid. Buildersmate is correct in that you only need to provide Conveyances / Indentures / mortgages from the past 15 years to prove ownership. However, each document has to be read in detail, as you often have to provide previous Conveyances if they are referred to in the later versions. You will have to produce an Epitome of Title along with form FR1 if you intend to register the property with the Land Registry.