During the Middle Age the land now comprising Chamberí District belonged to the Knights Templar until the early 14th century, at a time when this land was forest and hunting grounds for the Court. Tree felling began with the reign of Carlos I, and by the 17th century 80% of the land had been shared out between the nobility, the church and the monarch, as well as the peasants and landowners.
At the end of the 18th century and early 19th century, agriculture in this area gave way to industry, particularly brick and tile factories. Houses for workers were also built during this period, and promenades, such as in calle Luchana, calle del Cisne, now calle Eduardo Dato, and paseo Nuevo de las Delicias de la Princesa, now paseo de la Castellana.
The origins of the name are attributed to Napoleon’s troops, who during the War of Independence created a military camp Called Chambery, located on the site currently comprising Plaza de Chamberí, where tile workers’ housing was built. The Marqués de Santiago's farm was in this area, on what is now the Junta del Distrito.
The district came about as of 1860 on land to the north, on the Cerropimiento Hill, where the Vallehermoso stadium formerly stood, and the cypress trees and cemetery (just in Arapiles zone there were four).
In the 19th century development of the area around glorieta de Quevedo began, with some major urban renovation work, including plaza de Olavide. Moreover, calle Fuencarral, between Quevedo and Bilbao, was full of cinemas. In the 19th and 20th century the extension plans were developed.
The district was originally an industrial area, but it became a residential area for the Bourgeois class, where many artists and politicians built their manor houses.
