Why is the word "reading" (as in reading a book) pronounced "reeding" when the English town Reading is pronounced "Redding" as in Otis?

I like to read and while reading I read that Reading is pronounced Redding

Regional dialect? Original pronunciation, perhaps of the family name of whoever established it, if it had developed from an ancient manorial land holding? Do we know its original spelling, which may have changed over time?

That’s a tough thought, though.

The discoverers of English language (vikings) were continously busy fighting and taking over lands. Once taken they were in charge of everything inc. English litetature. Yes the Church/ Clergymen were in charge many years later but, they focused on taking money and were greedy for the King's power. So literature was seen as "Not important aspect..."

Folks in charge today focus on other "Important" things in their office "Is it lunch time already? why has that new English book exeeded a word? why we're slow on progress? just use the old English... Change the spelling? WHA! that'll cost us and add tax!" And so, English literature suffered a lot of injustice over the years... first fighters, then Holy men, now dumb retards.

Reading and Redding is one example.

Now you are seeing the way us Brits think, it is code to keep tourists asking the same question. I will be working in Reading (Redding) as soon as the lock down ends.😁

The English language is highly complex is why

I never knew the new Gnu could see the sea.

Have you ever read the Thursday Next novels by Jasper Fford? The main character is from Reading and I'm sure it's a joke about it being spelled like reading because the whole thing is full of literary references.

The English have many names which defy simple pronunciation rules...

I assume that it is partly historic usage, corruption of the full name, etc.