What type of paint/wall covering is this?

[CVHO]

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

 

[JohnD]

distemper

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

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

 

[CVHO]

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!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

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

 

[CVHO]

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