What type of paint/wall covering is this?

Hello,

I am trying to decorate some solid brick walls and just removed various layers of wall paper etc

After removing I am left with a pale green flaky in places type of paint? This is on lime plaster walls please see pics


I am assuming I am best off removing this before proceeding, if so any one have any tips? I will probably wall paper these as a finish on external walls and maybe skim internal walls

Thanks

 

distemper

it can be scrubbed off with hot water but not with cold

it must be removed as paint will not stick to it.

 

Thanks!

 

Distemper!

It was used in the pre-1950's era as a cheap way to decorate walls.
Good advice here....
https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/distemper.htm

 

As an update, I removed the majority of the green flakey layer, now have a second yellow layer which is very chalky... So will be repeating the process. I think the green layer had been a sealer but had started to peal, it did have wall paper on which was tough to remove