The Katharine Buildings are represented by the Charlotte Buildings in the novella A City Girl. The Katharine Buildings were the first model apartment buildings made by the East End Dwellings Company. Harkness briefly lived in the Katharine Buildings in 1888. The buildings operated on a rent-collection system that was run by women-collectors that ventured out of their societal gender roles in regard to occupation, dress, behavior, and more.

The East End of London is the traditional core of east London. From the early onset of the Industrial Revolution, the area has been known for deep poverty and overcrowded urbanization. By the 1870's, efforts were made to clean up the unsafe housing and combat the desperate poverty. Philanthropic trusts such as the Peabody Trust were formed to help raise funds for better housing, and the Housing of the Working Classes Act was passed in 1890 that gave the government power to develop new community buildings.

Lourdes, France became popular in 1858 after someone claimed to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary. Catholics flocked to the city to take water flowing from the spring in Lourdes. The water was thought to have healing properties by the Catholics. There were still many Roman Catholics in London and in A City Girl. Nelly Ambrose and Susan believe that the water has healing properties if the Virgin Mary chooses to allow it.