Penetrating damp on exterior Victorian brick wall

Hi, Having looked at the photo: It is a solid wall, and a Victorian property; this can be ascertained by the brickwork bond. The dampness is very strange though, generally 2 bed Victorian cottages have no provision to stop damp rising from the ground, which should not be ruled out, you can buy a moisture meter for about £20, I strongly advise you buy one and take readings above the skirting boards. Also not to be patronizing, guttering defects should be checked, but the shape of the dampness is not indicative of guttering problems or a water leak. It almost looks like someone has soaked the wall with a hose pipe. I have come across numerous instances where strange unexplained dampness has occurred, and practically in all instances the dampness is rising damp, which has been exasperated in areas where renovations have been undertaken and the wrong type of plaster has been used, namely bonding plaster, which contains cork, which acts like a sponge absorbing moisture from the readily absorbent sand and lime mortar beds (the mortar between the bricks) of solid walled Victorian properties. Please please read my website www.twbuilding.com which will give you a clear understanding about dampness in buildings. Kind Regards, David Telford (Proprietor)