IT'S the medieval gatehouse with 700 years of history.

God’s House Tower on Town Quay is one of Southampton’s few remaining intact mediaeval buildings and has been used as a gunnery, a jail and the city’s archaeological museum.

But when artist Sarah Filmer started to look into its history, she could find no record of women there at all.

So in an event that is sure to make the history books, the Bitterne artist is organising a procession of 700 women through the building - one for every year of its history.

Ms Filmer, whose 2013 ‘Blue Jumper’ project got 12,000 people knitting together said: “Because it’s going to be an arts and heritage building we want to go forwards in a balanced way, especially as the history of the building has been very male dominated.”

But it's not just women who are invited on October 29 - Ms Filmer is also asking men and boys and girls to come along too - and are asked to bring along a photo of a woman who means something to them so that they will be part of the project.

Ms Filmer added: “I am interested in how women are represented in our patriarchal world. The lack of women in the recorded history of GHT made me wonder how to redress this - how better than enabling women to represent themselves.

She added: “I often invite people to participate in my work as i don't feel I can be the voice for many, but I like to open a forum for people to make their voices heard."

The day is part of a wider programme of events happening at the mediaeval gatehouse, which as previously reported by the Daily Echo, flung open it’s ancient doors to the public for the first time since 2011, with a week of events and exhibitions, and a pop up coffee shop from Southampton chain Mettricks.

The public were also invited to see architectural drawings and have their say on the venue’s new branding before it is converted into the city’s newest arts and heritage centre in a £2.4 million renovation project.

God’s House Tower began life in the late 13th century as a gatehouse but was expanded after the French raid of 1338 to become a strategic part of the town’s defensive walls.

The tower is one of the earliest coastal fortifications in the country, and was built specifically to carry cannon. For the following two centuries it was home to the town gunners.

In the 18th century the building was used as a prison before it became a storage space for the Southampton harbour board.

In 1960 it was converted into the museum of archaeology and ran as such until 2011.

700 women takes place on October 29 from 10am - 6pm. There will be djs, crafts, and performances throughout the day, as well as photographers and artists documenting the people who visit.

Visitors will also be able to look round the building and see plans for its conversion.

The event is part of Southampton Fringe Festival.