Tucked away in the historic military precinct of Peninsula Barracks in Winchester lies the HorsePower Museum — the regimental museum of The King’s Royal Hussars (KRH). This museum is housed in a building rich with military heritage, and its purpose is to chronicle more than three centuries of cavalry, horse‑mounted charge, tank warfare, and the evolution of the modern armoured regiment. For anyone visiting Winchester with an interest in military history—especially that of cavalry traditions and armoured warfare—it is a must‑see.
Origins and the Regiment’s Story
The King’s Royal Hussars regiment was formed in December 1992 by the amalgamation of The Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales’s Own) and 14th/20th King’s Hussars. National Army Museum However, its roots go much deeper — tracing back to the 10th and 11th Hussars (both founded in 1715) and beyond. Wikipedia+1 The HorsePower Museum tells this long story: from the days of sabre and high‑spirited cavalry, through the Boer War, the Charge of the Light Brigade, the two World Wars and on to modern armoured operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Army Museums Ogilby Trust+1
The museum has been carefully designed to convey this developmental arc: how the horse‑mounted hussars of the 18th and 19th centuries metamorphosed into tank‑armed units in the 20th and 21st centuries. The building is accessible and set within one of Winchester’s military museum hubs, making it easy to combine with other related visits in the area.
What to Expect: Collections and Highlights
Visitors to the museum encounter a rich array of artefacts, interactive displays, dioramas, and technology‑driven experiences. Some of the key features include:
- Historic uniforms, medals, weapons and models: Highlights include the Victoria Crosses awarded to members of the antecedent regiments, a display of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade from the 11th Hussars, and life‑size model horses that evoke the era when cavalry ruled the battlefield. Wikipedia
- Dioramas and immersive zones: One particularly stirring exhibit is the diorama of the aftermath of the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava. winchestersmilitarymuseums.co.uk There is also a recreated WW1 trench and the actual cupboard where a soldier remained hidden for years in WW2. winchestersmilitarymuseums.co.uk
- Modern armoured warfare: The museum doesn’t stop at the old cavalry days; it covers the transition to modern armoured warfare — including a tank simulator of the Challenger 2, videos and stories of KRH operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and other recent deployments. horsepowermuseum.co.uk
- Interactive and family‑friendly elements: On a more informal level, the museum offers hands‑on experiences: visitors can try on busbies (the tall fur hats of the hussars), sit on a saddle in the stable section, and explore audio‑visual zones of battle sounds, mounted patrol stories and more. winchestersmilitarymuseums.co.uk
The Building and Location
Located at Romsey Road, Winchester (SO23 8TS) in Peninsula Barracks, the museum sits within a cluster of six military museums that together form Winchester’s Military Museums. Wikipedia The setting is not just convenient but evocative: you’re walking in buildings where military tradition lives on, surrounded by the legacy of British Army units.
Its fully accessible facilities are noted by the museum: accessible parking, ramp or level access, induction loop for hearing support and guide dogs welcome. Visit Winchester
Visitor Information
As of recent information:
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–16:00; Saturday 12:00–16:00. horsepowermuseum.co.uk+1
- Admission prices: Adult £5.00; children under 16 free; active service personnel free with valid ID. horsepowermuseum.co.uk+1
- The museum is currently undergoing a refurbishment (Phase One completed) and reopened 18 August 2025. horsepowermuseum.co.uk
Why Visit?
There are many reasons this museum stands out:
- Depth of story: Few regimental museums capture such a broad sweep of military evolution—from horses and sabres to tanks and modern armoured infantry.
- Engagement for all ages: The mix of uniforms, stories, interactive exhibits and immersive zones makes it suitable for military historians, families, school groups and casual visitors alike.
- Complementary history: Located in Winchester, with its cathedral, ancient streets and other military museums, a visit here fits well into a wider heritage day out.
- Living tradition: The King’s Royal Hussars is still an active regiment, which gives the museum a sense of living continuity — you’re not just seeing the past, you’re connecting with a present‑day unit.
Themes That Resonate
Walking through HorsePower, a visitor will pick up on several recurring themes:
- Change and adaptation: The transition from cavalry to armour is a story of adaptation to technology and warfare.
- Courage and comradeship: Medal displays and personal accounts underscore the bravery, bonds and sacrifices of the soldiers.
- Legacy and identity: The antecedent regiments (10th, 11th, 14th, 20th Hussars) each carry their own identities, yet they merge into the modern KRH — the museum helps make sense of that lineage.
- Human experience: Uniforms, diaries, audio‑visual testimonies, artefacts all help bring the human dimension alive — the individual soldier, the horse, the crew in the tank.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
- Allocate around 1 to 1½ hours for your visit; you may spend more if you pause at every display.
- Combine with other museums in the same quarter of Winchester for a full heritage experience.
- Check for any special openings or closures related to refurbishment; advance planning helps.
- Bring comfortable shoes: while the building is accessible, you’ll be standing and walking through displays.
- For families: Look out for the interactive zones and mounts that younger visitors may enjoy.
- For military history enthusiasts: Pay special attention to the medal cases, dioramas of major battles, and the archive indications of modern deployments.
Final Thoughts
Visiting HorsePower, The Museum of The King’s Royal Hussars, is a rewarding experience — not just for understanding cavalry or tanks, but for appreciating how traditions evolve, how soldiers’ lives change, and how one regiment embodies centuries of British military history. Situated in Winchester’s historic military heart, the museum offers both learning and inspiration.
If you’re planning a visit to Winchester and have any interest in the British Army, cavalry heritage, or armoured warfare, this museum deserves a prominent place on your itinerary. It is a place where you’ll hear the neigh of horses echoed by the rumble of tanks, where sabres give way to armoured vehicles, and where the past remains alive in the present.
