First I'd get out there when it's raining and try to get a feel for whether this is water rolling off the roof, or the effect of driving rain, or both. It looks like a lot of damp brick for a minor roofing issue, I would want to attribute it properly before attempting a solution.
Suspect the side of the house was rendered because of driving rain wrecking the brickwork, but WTF is that white staining coming through?
It's not the right side for prevailing winds so I was quietly hoping it would be runoff from the coping stones on the gable wall and around the edge of the guttering.
I think you're right though, a trip up a tall ladder in the rain is probably a good idea.
First I'd get out there when it's raining and try to get a feel for whether this is water rolling off the roof, or the effect of driving rain, or both. It looks like a lot of damp brick for a minor roofing issue, I would want to attribute it properly before attempting a solution.
Suspect the side of the house was rendered because of driving rain wrecking the brickwork, but WTF is that white staining coming through?