Top Hat Heritage
Examples of our Work
Top Hat Heritage is an archaeology and heritage consultancy by Matt Hennessey. Matt graduated from the University of Otago in 2007 and has worked on archaeological sites in New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. In 2011 he began working full time recording the archaeology and heritage of Christchurch and North Canterbury following the Canterbury Earthquakes.
Top Hat Heritage specialises in the archaeology and heritage of Canterbury. Matt is adept at recording historic cottages and other buildings.
The Red Lion Tavern, Rangiora
This history was researched and written by Matt Hennessey as part of a larger archaeological report that recorded the Red Lion Tavern, Rangiora, during its demolition following the Canterbury Earthquakes. Detailed histories such as this help inform the archaeological recording of the building and provide a much-needed foundation for interpreting the things we find during the building recording and subsequent earthworks.
This history appeared in the archaeological report: Mitchell, P., and Hennessey, M., 2017. 39-49 High Street, Rangiora: Report on Archaeological Monitoring. Unpublished report for Scope Demolition South.
Submitted to HNZPT in 2017.
30 Ruskin Street, Christchurch
This history was part of an archaeological assessment for 30 Ruskin Street, Christchurch. The property included a house that appeared to be of 19th construction, and therefore the property was a possible archaeological site under the HNZPT act. An archaeological assessment was commissioned by the property owner to determine the history of the property and the age of the house.
This history was compiled alongside a site visit to do a preliminary investigation of the house. This has been left out of this document for the privacy of the property owner.
The archaeological assessment was submitted to HNZPT in 2021.
Drawings
Matt can undertake all parts of an archaeological project including preparing architectural drawings. Click each drawing to open in a new window.
Blog
Top Hat Heritage keeps a blog of local heritage stories and historical curiosities. Check out the blog to see more of Matt’s writing.
