Hey lovely people
It appears it was some kind of textured paint, something the housing associations use to cover up the fact the walls are lumpy bumpy I'm told
We got one wall down to the original material and it was what looked like breeze block material, grey and coarse.
In the end my health has dictated I can't really be up for a huge job at the moment so am going to save the pennies and get 'a man in' hehe, a professional, once I have saved enough.
Thank you all for your help, ideas, support and concern, I shall certainly use this forum to see if there is a local who can price me a job once I'm in the situation to do it.
Thank you Thank you Thank you
All superheroes!