David Baker (davidjmbaker @t btinternet.com) owns the above picture of Castle Farm, Wheathampstead, which was painted by E. A. Phipson (q.v.) in 1901. In addition to providing information on the artist he said: About 20+ years ago, when we were living in Harpenden, I found a watercolour for sale in Petersfield inscribed on the reverse in pencil "Castle (Cresswell?) Farm occupied by Mr. Jabez Nash".  It is signed "Evacustes A. Phipson Wheathamstead 1901".  I think this farm was (or maybe still is) on the River Lea.  Checking my copy of the 1881 census I see that 20 years earlier a Jabez Nash, born about 1849 was a labourer living with his wife and 5 children in the Folly Wheathamstead - so I assume this is the same man.

Castle Farm is on the road between Wheathampstead and Harpenden villages, on the bank of the River Lea.  The following description comes from "About Wheathampstead":

Over a short rise one sees the farm buildings and doll's house shape of CASTLE FARM. Castle Farm was probably built about 1620, and is a substantial example of a two room house with a central chimney, of the early seventeenth century. It is, however, not typical of its period as Little Cutts is. The features that make it unusual are its central chimney stack—usually the stack is off centre—; its depth from front to back—22 feet—. and its third storey, which is made possible by the depth and its high gables. These features, together with its substantial timber construction, suggest that it was the house of a wealthy farmer. The two room house plan, with a kitchen heated from one side of the central stack and a parlour on the other, was at this time restricted to the better off. The present kitchen and laundry on the south side are later additions; the windows have been altered to give a symmetrical facade. and the timbers visible on the outside arc sham. We know that John Brocket went to live at Castle Farm after he had sold Mackerye End in 1628; if he had had it built for himself this would explain the unusual quality of the house. Inside, on the mantel piece in one of the bedrooms, is scratched what looks like J. Becket. Possibly this was the work of Jeremy Becket who was buried from the farm about 1690. Two Bartholomew Humphreys, in succession, farmed here between 1753 and 1783. The name, Castle Farm, is a modern corruption of the medieval name Creswell, a spring that fed water cress beds; and some old cress beds can be seen between the farm and a mound to the west. These cress beds were in use at least until the 1939-45 war. The Cherry-Garrards, incidentally, used to have cray fishing parties in the river by the farm.

It is shown on Oliver's 1695 map of Hertfordshire as Causewel , Dury & Andrew's 1766 map as Causewell and Bryant's 1822 map as Causwell Farm. A housing development is shown on the area on modern road maps. It is not explicitly listed on the 1851 census (possibly one of the properties simply described as on the Luton Road, and it is possible that the fields were already being farmed with those of Mackery End Farm. It is not listed by name in the 1881 census - but all the households in the area, including the one occupied by Jabez Nash, are listed under "The Folly" so he could have been living in the house then.

If you can add to the information given above tell me.