Old Moore’s Almanack is an astrological Almanack that has been published in Britain since 1697 and is still in production today. It was first written by Dr Francis Moore, who ran a school in Back Lane, now Lambeth High street. Besides being a schoolmaster, Dr Moore was also a physician, herbalist, seer and astrologer.
Dr Francis Moore
Francis Moore (29 January 1657 – 1715) was born into poverty in Bridgnorth, reputedly in one of the cave dwellings in the vicinity of St Mary’s Steps. Moore was self-educated, learning to read by himself, and became a physician and astrologer. He served at the court of Charles II of England.
He is said to have acted for some time as assistant to another well-known astrologer of the time, John Partridge and to have then lived at the north corner of Calcot’s Alley in Lambeth High Street. On obtaining a license to practise physic, he established himself in 1698 at the sign of ‘Dr. Lilly’s Head,’ in Crown Court, near Cupid’s Bridge, Lambeth, in the threefold capacity of physician, astrologer, and schoolmaster.
His first Almanack
The first edition of Old Moore’s Almanack was published in 1697, under the title Kalendarium Ecclesiasticum: … a new Two-fold Kalendar,’ and contained weather forecasts. It was written by Dr Moore to promote the sale of some wonderful pills of his own compounding.
By 6 July 1700 Moore had completed the first of his famous Vox Stellarum, containing astrological observations.
This was to become a bestseller throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and is still in publication in the 21st century.
| Publication Year | Copies Sold |
| 1768 | 107,000 |
| 1789 | 365,000 |
| 1839 | 560,000 |
The sale figures are quite an achievement in an age of relative illiteracy. This made Dr Moore a fortune: with an annual income of well over £600 a year when the usual income would have been just £7 or £8 a year.
At the time almanacks were second only to the Bible in terms of book sales.
Almanacs
Almanacks, produced yearly, were amongst other things the forerunners of the modern pocket diary containing all sorts of useful information. These included; an accurate calendar for the coming year; times for the rising and setting of the sun; dates for the phases of the moon; lists of important dates and individuals like the Kings and Queens of England. They also made prophecies and predictions for the weather and events of both political and national importance.
Old Moore’s Almanack is still published today
Old Moore’s Almanack has long outlived its creator and it still thrives thanks to its reputation for sensationalism and prophecy.
The publishers claim that his methodology has produced the most successful ‘Astrological Data’ in the world for more than several hundred years. And that …’ No other Astrologer can match his record of accurate prediction’.
Claims include –
- predicted the 9/11 attacks of 2001.
- that Princess Elizabeth would become our Queen, despite the fact that at the time she was not then in line for succession.
- Later in the century he predicted the abdication of King Edward VIII
- He predicted the start of the Second World War and the end of that war too – through a devastatingly powerful bomb.
