Thomas Dinham Atkinson was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England in 1864. After studying at University College, Cambridge, he was articled to Arthur William Blomfield (1829-1899) in London from January 1882. He also attended University College, London. Between 1884 and 1887 he worked as an assistant to Blomfield and Clerk of Works on church restoration projects. In 1889 Atkinson qualified as an architect and attended the British School in Athens. He was also elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1889 and commenced independent practice as an architect in Cambridge.
Atkinson was Surveyor to the Dean and Chapter of Ely; Diocesan Surveyor, Winchester; Surveyor to the Dean and Chapter of Winchester, and to the Warder and Fellows of Winchester College. He was also Consulting Architect to the Incorporated Church Building Society.
He was the author of several publications on architecture, particularly on church architecture. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1910.
Arkinson's address was given as 1 Clare Villas, Barton Rd, Newnham, Cambridge in 1889 and 1914; 4 Trumpington Street, Cambridge in 1910 and 1914; ; 11 Southgate Street, Winchester in 1926;and 105 High Street, Winchester, Hampshire in 1931 and 1939. He died on 29 December 1948. His address at the time of his death was Cotswold House, 7 Christchurch Road, Winchester, Hampshire
Works at Ely. Cathedral; University library and observatory, Cambridge; Church at Maes-y-Groes, N. Wales; houses, etc., and church work at Cambridge, Winchester, and elsewhere
Atkinson, Thomas Dinham. Local style in English architecture: an enquiry into its origin and development. London: Batsford, 1947
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 176, 7 January 1949, p. 18
'Obituary'. RIBA Journal vol. 56, 1949, p. 143