I used to live in Devonshire Rd from 85 to 09 and remember complaining when they ( the church ) took over the right of way from Devonshire Rd to Manor Mount.
Many locals I spoke to who had lived there from before the war confirmed it had always been a right of way.
I did mention it about 5 years ago when the ROW was closed and was advised
difficult to prove ROW.
This was a great short cut from DR to Sainsbury.