When Thomas Waghorn braved the harsh waves and strong winds when he sailed to India from Britain in search of a new postal route, he probably didn’t expect more than 200 years later he would be immortalised with a statue… and knitted cape.

The iconic Kent figure, who is well-known around the Towns for sporting traffic cones and other items on his head, will soon be adorned with the comfy fashion feature as part of a new art collaboration.

Waghorn was a Victorian sailor and naval officer born in Chatham High Street in 1800. He became famous after suggesting a new postal route between Britain and India before the Suez Canal was opened in 1869.

The pioneer shortened the three-month journey to 35-45 days by going through Egypt on land.

A statue was commissioned with him pointing east to the route but plans where to put the tribute changed leading him to be pointing north instead - at public toilets.

Even so, he’s an iconic part of Medway and now, in an attempt to keep the lifeless figure warm, knitters, crocheters and knot makers.....

But now, in an attempt to keep the lifeless figure warm, knitters, crocheters and knot makers will be introducing several wooly additions to Medway, including three replicas of HM Submarine Ocelot, HMS Gannet and HMS Cavalier, five postbox toppers, one for each Medway town representing the RNLI, Dockyard Trains, Thomas Waghorn, Call the Midwife and Salute to the 40s.

A spokesman for the Gillingham-based Unravel & Unwind C.I.C said: “As a bonus additional side project we would love to see a full size cape with the Dockyard40 logo on for the main Thomas Waghorn statue.”

The group is making the knitted goods to celebrate 40 years of Historic Dockyard Chatham Trust.

Waghorn’s statue on Railway Street was erected in 1888 and depicts the explorer pointing northwards...the wrong way.

This is because when it was first proposed, the statue was to be built at a different location which would have seen him pointing eastwards towards the postal route he discovered.

Sadly, most people don’t know of Waghorn’s legacy and simply remember him for his bright orange cones – something drag star River Medway brought to life on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

Multiple products around the Medway legend have been sold in recent years, including key chains, badges and post cards.